Judge hopefuls answer questions

     By Mark Waite
     View staff writer
      Bob Glennen, one of four district judge candidates, mentioned his wide range of experience in private practice, dealing with anything from probate law to water rights, during a candidates forum at the Pahrump Valley Vineyards on Aug. 18.
      When asked by a panelist about his lawsuit against Nye County after being released by newly elected District Attorney Bob Beckett in 1995, Glennen, the former chief deputy district attorney, said he reminded Beckett before his election there is a policy and procedures manual that protects employees in the district attorney's office.
      "Instead of firing them, he fired me," Glennen said.
      Ironically, Glennen, at the time, supervised two other district judge candidates, Robert Lane and Kirk Vitto.
      "Even though I've lived in Nye County longer than any other candidate, I'm the outsider in this race," said Lane, a Nye County deputy district attorney based in Tonopah.
      Lane said as a judge, he would have mutual respect for people entering the courtroom and nobody would be puzzled about what happens when they leave court.
      Vitto, chief felony prosecutor for three years, said he was the only judge candidate born, raised and educated in Nevada, except for his time in law school in Whittier, Calif.
      Reciting his record in obtaining convictions, Vitto said, "Jury trials are a benchmark on calculating a lawyer's ability."
      The final judge candidate, Marla Zlotek, said she graduated sixth out of a class of 239 at Loyola University Law School. Currently a deputy district attorney, Zlotek said she also has experience in handling wills, personal injury and medical malpractice cases. She pledged to continue working long hours to get the job done.
      At a lower court level, all but one of the justice of the peace candidates spoke at the forum. The following is a sampling of their statements:
      n Concerning his qualifications, Herman Payne said, "I believe in God, I have morals and I have ethics. I know right from wrong."
      Payne defended his ability to work as he suffers from some crippling disabilities.
      n Sam Mersel, who is campaigning on a platform of tough sentences for drunken drivers, said a second justice court is needed, as well as a night court. Mersel added all county officials should have term limits.
      "What we need in this county in all offices is new blood," Mersel said.
      n Dwight Duncan said he's the only lawyer running for justice of the peace. Duncan said Pahrump's increasing size has not only increased the court docket, but led to more complex cases. Pre-trial motions should be modified to speed up the caseload, Duncan said.
      n Michael Foley said personal feelings have no place in the courtroom. He said there are too many continuances in court cases which tie up the court docket.
      n Tina Brisebell said she's been with the justice court for 18 years and she's now administrator.
      "Our court calendar goes along pretty well, given the caseload we have in our community," she said in answering a question about the backlog of cases.
      Brisebell said the justice court could speed up matters by instituting a law and motion day, like the district court, to hear pleas and other matters which don't require trials. But she said there won't be a spare courtroom for a second justice court after the second district judge takes office in January.
      n Bill Griffin noted he came from a family in law enforcement and said his qualifications were, "...my common sense judgment, being in business, knowing how to handle people."