Lawyers' poll gives slight edge to Elofson in Superior Court judge race

by Chris Bristol
Yakima Herald-Republic

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Yakima County judicial evaluation results
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David Elofson topped a new bar association poll for a seat on the Yakima County Superior Court bench, although his opponent for the position fared well.

Elofson received roughly twice as many "exceptional" ratings as Rob Lawrence-Berrey in four out of five categories in the poll, which was sponsored by the Yakima County Bar Association. Both men are Yakima attorneys.

In the category of temperament, Elofson got 43 exceptional votes to 17 for Lawrence-Berrey. The spread was similar in the categories of legal ability, integrity and relevant legal experience.

In the fifth category, diligence and dedication, the exceptional score was much closer, 27 votes for Elofson to 24 for Lawrence-Berrey.

The bar poll was tabulated by the Moss Adams accounting firm and released Tuesday by Brendan
Monahan, current president of the county bar.

According to the results, 106 members of the bar (including judges) filled out at least part of the evaluation forms. Nearly two dozen forms were invalidated, mostly because of forgotten signatures.

Of the forms that counted, most members of the local bar rated the candidates as exceptionally well qualified, well qualified or qualified. Only a handful ranked either candidate as unqualified.

Combining the top three scores -- exceptional, well qualified and qualified -- in the five categories, Elofson got 396 votes to 364 for Lawrence-Berrey.

They are vying to replace Judge Robert Hackett, who is retiring from Yakima County Superior Court after 20 years.

With only two candidates on the ballot, the race will be decided in the primary on Aug. 19.

 

A reminder

* Ballots will be mailed to voters starting today. In Yakima County, election workers will send 93,785 ballots to voters who have until the day of the Aug. 19 primary to cast their choices and return their ballots.

* Yakima County voter participation -- which was 33 percent in 2006, the last even-year primary, and 37 percent in 2004 -- is projected at 48 percent for this year's primary election.

 



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