May 8, 2008

Strohmaier will again seek the

Lincoln County judgeship

Attorney John F. Strohmaier, who has maintained a private practice of law since 1981, will seek the position of Lincoln County Superior Court Judge that is being vacated by retiring Judge Borst. Four years ago Strohmaier ran against incumbent Judge Borst, who was at that time seeking his fifth term, and Strohmaier received over 43 percent of the vote. The Lincoln County prosecutor and district court judge recently declared themselves candidates for this position. 

“Living in Odessa for the past 26 years and being a sole practitioner for the last 20 required that I practice in many diverse fields of law. This experience has given me a broad base of legal knowledge which I believe is essential for a Superior Court Judge to possess.” 

The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction and Strohmaier feels his experience is broad enough to cover most of the areas the court may have to address. Strohmaier’s experience includes agricultural law including FSA appeals; family law; criminal law; probates; trusts; guardianships; dependencies; corporations; LLC’s; real estate law; leases; sales; tax matters; municipal law for towns, fire districts and the local hospital district. He has also represented the Lincoln County Noxious Weed Control Board and the Lincoln County Water Conservancy Board in matters filed before the Lincoln County Superior Court and has also served as a court ordered arbitrator on civil matters.

His experience also includes being a Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Adams County for a number of years for the establishment of paternities, child support enforcement, and support modifications and has for the last several years represented Adams County in various civil matters.

Strohmaier is a native to the area having been raised on a farm near Lind and having graduated from Lind in 1974. He received his B.A. in Business Administration with an Option in Finance and a Minor in Economics from WSU in 1978. He then attended Gonzaga Law School in the fall of 1978, and passed the bar in the spring of 1981.

In 1977 he married Cathy Hintze, a graduate of Ritzville. Cathy received a Master’s degree in Clinical and School psychology from EWU and was previously employed by ESD 101 serving many schools in the Bi-County. She is now employed by the Moses Lake School District. They have two grown children, Tanya, a graduate of WSU, and Kyle, a recent graduate of EWU.

Strohmaier believes he has the temperament and the work ethic needed to be an effective judge and has the desire to serve. As a judge, John indicates that he “intends to be a problem solver, to be fully informed of the facts and the law in every case, and to rule fairly in a just and equitable manner.”

Although Strohmaier works long hours practicing law, he is active in the Odessa Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, is currently the President of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation, a member of the Heritage Church and was the high school boys basketball coach for six years.

Strohmaier indicates that he has been encouraged by talking to friends throughout the county to enter this race. He says that he and his family will be going door to door as they did four years ago to talk and work directly with the electorate.

If elected, Strohmaier does not intend to close his offices in Odessa or Ritzville but rather will have another attorney come in after the election to learn the operations and clients and take over at the end of the year. 

Strohmaier also commented that he is honored that Clark Kagele, of Odessa, has again agreed to become his campaign chairman. Brenik Iverson will serve as the campaign’s treasurer.