Published: May 04, 2008 12:13 am         

Public, private work cited

A former county commissioner and police officer, Martin A. McCloskey, Elkhart, cites his experience in the public and private sectors as important to his candidacy.

“I decided to run because Judge Rieckhoff was stepping down, and because of my past experience,” McCloskey said, noting his prior service spent in the United States Air Force, as a county commissioner, as a police officer and as an attorney. “When looking at all of my combined experience, I think the opportunity presented itself.

“I see it as a stepping stone, and it’s really a win-win situation for me. If I win the election, it’s a win and a positive for the community, but even if I lose, I get my name out as an attorney, and that I’m practicing,” he said.

When asked what he feels are the most important qualities for a judicial candidate to possess, McCloskey noted fairness and impartiality as key.

“I think a judge has to be impartial, they have to be fair, and then they need to rule according to the law, based upon the facts of the case and the law,” McCloskey said. “Even if it doesn’t go the right way for someone, someone’s going to be a winner and someone’s going to be the loser, and sometimes both are losers, so it’s tough.

“You just have to take the facts, and then base it on the law, and then come to a decision, and absolutely you have to be fair and you have to be impartial, and I believe I have those qualities,” he said.

As for why he feels he is the most qualified candidate for the position, McCloskey called on what he considers his significant experience in both the public and private sectors.

“I consider myself a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order. I’m self-employed, and I was in the U.S. Air Force, I was in law enforcement, and I was a county commissioner from 2000 to 2004, so I have that vast experience under my belt,” McCloskey said. “In addition, I’m a practicing attorney, so I think with all those credentials, I’m certainly qualified for the position of judge.”

McCloskey also noted that he will not be accepting any outside funding for his campaign.

“As a candidate for judge, I’m not soliciting nor receiving funds from any individuals,” McCloskey said. “I just don’t think when you’re running for judge — it may be completely legal — but I just feel that a person shouldn’t do that.

If elected, McCloskey said facilitating the movement of cases through the court in a fair and open minded manner will be his primary goal.

“I think Judge Rieckhoff and his staff do a wonderful job, they are great people, very helpful and courteous, and they move things right along. That court is a very, very busy court, and his shoes will be hard to fill. He’s been doing this a long time, and he is very good,” McCloskey said. “The main thing you want to do is keep up the caseload to keep things moving. You need to make sure people can get into court in a timely fashion, can be heard, and the case can be taken care of in a fairly timely and efficient manner. So as far as doing anything differently, I’d just try and keep up the caseload.

“Basically I work a lot, I have a lot of clients, I have a lot of cases and I enjoy what I’m doing,” McCloskey said. “I like it, but like I said, being single, that affords me a bit more time than maybe someone that’s not single, but then you also have to balance things so you don’t burn out. I’m very, very hard working, and I do what it takes to get the job done. If I have to be there late, if I have to do whatever, I’m going to get the job done.”