Geauga County Bar Association members vote on 11th District judicial candidates’ fitness for office

The Geauga County Bar Association recently conducted a poll of members regarding candidates for the upcoming contested judicial race in the May 8 Republican Primary Election.

Attorney Matt Lynch is challenging incumbent 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Colleen Mary O’Toole for a six-year term commencing Feb. 9.

Poll respondents were asked to evaluate each candidate for fitness for office in terms of honesty, ability, temperament, industry, impartiality and professional competence.

Of 170 ballots issued to members of the bar, 85 responses (50 percent) were returned by the deadline.

The results were as followed:

Lynch was “highly recommended” by three members, “recommended” by 14 members, “not recommended” by 57 members and 11 members had “no opinion” on him.

O’Toole was “highly recommended” by 11 members, “recommended” by 23 members, “not recommended” by 47 members and four members had “no opinion” on her.

The poll results were not an endorsement of any candidate by the bar.

The winner of the primary will face Democratic write-in challenger Darya Klammer in November.