Two of Clallam County Superior Court’s three judges have made decisions about running in the Nov. 6 general election, but the third one is still on the fence.
Ken Williams will not seek re-election, George L. Wood will, and S. Brooke Taylor is undecided, they said Wednesday in separate interviews.
All Superior Court judge positions statewide are up for election Nov. 6.
Filing week is May 14-18.
Williams, 65, whose salary is $148,000 a year, is retiring at the end of this year after five terms on the bench.
“I’ve been studying or practicing law for 42 years, and I’m ready to do different things on the bench,” Williams said.
“When I first ran in 1992, I thought it was ideal if I serve 20 years,” Williams said, adding that he would keep his bar license current and be willing to fill in as a judge pro tem.
His main priority in retirement?
“I will be a full-time grandpa for my four grandkids,” he said.
Accomplishments
Williams counted among his greatest accomplishments his involvement in statewide judicial projects, including the creation and implementation of drug courts, serving as chair of the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative implementation committee and sitting as a rural judge representative on a statewide task force that redrafted the state Judicial Code of Conduct.
“Twice I got asked to sit on the state Court of Appeals, and that was fun,” he said.
Williams’ wife, Janet, is a retired registered nurse. They have four grown children.
Williams came to Port Angeles fresh out of law school to practice law in 1974, the same year Wood, also a new law school graduate, came to Port Angeles.
Wood elected in 1992
Wood, 62, defeated incumbent Grant Meiner in 1992 — the same year Williams defeated incumbent Gary Belie — and has never faced further opposition.
“I still enjoy the work, and with almost 20 years of experience, I feel effective and efficient at what I do,” Wood said.
“As long as I believe that, I will continue to serve if the people want me.”
Wood and his wife, Nancy, a homemaker, have four grown children.
Taylor, 68, was elected in a 2007 special election after the county’s third Superior Court judicial position was created and was re-elected in 2008.
Asked if he will run for re-election in November, he said, “I have not decided.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
