Thursday, March 25, 1999
Party endorses Butler Co. judge
Spaeth may move to Common Pleas
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — If Gov. Bob Taft agrees with the Butler County Republican Party, Fairfield Municipal Judge Keith Spaeth will be moving on to the Butler County Common Pleas Court.
The party on Wednesday endorsed Judge Spaeth, 38, to replace Anthony Valen, who was elected to the 12th district court of appeals in November.
“I'm very happy to get the recommendation from the party,” Judge Spaeth said. “I look forward to serving all of Butler County and am confident I'll do a great job as Butler County Common Pleas judge.”
The party's recommendation will be given to Gov. Taft who will make the appointment. Typically the governor follows the party's lead.
“We'll be forwarding this to the governor and getting him to move on it as quickly as possible,” said Carlos Todd, party chairman. “I'm confident that Taft will agree.”
Party leaders are hoping that Gov. Taft will make the appointment within a month, Mr. Todd said.
If appointed, Judge Spaeth will have to run in November 2000 for a six year term, said Marilyn Hatfield, the party's executive director.
In addition to Judge Spaeth, Middletown attorneys Jeffrey K. Milbauer and Gary H. Kaup sought the endorsement. Judge Spaeth won the nod on the first ballot, receiving 154 of the 228 votes cast.
Mr. Todd was pleased with the quality of the three candidates.
“(Any) of the three would make an excellent judge,” he said. “We're never lacking for good candidates.”
Judge Spaeth, a Hamilton native, has been Fairfield Municipal Judge since March 1996.
He graduated from the University of Dayton Law School in 1986 and has a bachelor's degree from Purdue University.
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