TEAM SANTIAGO SET TO OUST JUDGE WITCHER

Team Santiago is up to their old tricks.   The more they promise transparency the more they hide the facts. It is time to appoint a judge. When the previous commission appointed Judge Witcher, 6 candidates were interviewed. Judge Witcher promised to clean up the backlog -   he did. Judge Witcher promised to be involved in the community – he is. Judge Witcher promised to work with code enforcement – he is. So why is he being replaced with Laura Van Embden? When Laura Van Embden was the judge she increased the backlog, did not start court on time, and sat on cases costing the city time and money. 

Judge Witcher posted this on facebook:

The struggle continues.... without notice, not even granted a performance review or interview, something that has been customary for all my predecessors, a motion was quietly made to have another judge appointed in one of my municipalities. But for a friend, I would have went to court only to find another sitting on the bench. No other judge in the history of the town has ever been treated with such underserved disrespect.

Despite the historical nature of my appointment, exceptional performance and unparalleled service to the community, someone saw fit to seize an opportunity and move to replace me whilst seemingly no one was paying attention, delaying the matter until the smoke of summer racial unrest cleared, waiting till after elections and slipping it in for a vote without so much a courtesy call. This is the type of disrespect that has been a constant part of this perilous journey.

Again no other Judge has ever received this type of treatment? There have been attempts to sabotage my term for years. Why? What is the difference between me and my predecessors? Judges have sat there for decades, regardless of political party changes or affiliations, so my treatment can't be a political issue? Judges have been retained no matter the performance or public outcry? My record is unparalleled, that also can't be the reason. So what is different? My reputation for fairness is impeccable, so that isn't the reason. My involvement and positive impact in the community is unmatched, so that isn't the reason? So what is it? What is the real reason?

I have never viewed my role as limited to a courtroom, instead actively working to reach into the lives of people to motivate, inspire and empower all of my brothers and sisters. Despite the obstacles, in the words of the great John Lewis, I've never been afraid to get into some "Good Trouble"

I appreciate your support, please don't just read, but SHARE this information and get answers. However, no matter what I will certainly continue my service to you.

 

 This is the good old boys at its best. This is another payback for favors given and received, Pepitone, Cooper, and Quinn are running together in the next city commission election. Quinn and Van Embden are long time friends who worked tirelessly to reopen the Levoy. The dots are very easy to connect. This payback is not what is best for Millville. It is just like hiring out of town attorneys. Cooper and Pepitone are acting blindly without doing their research. The rest of Team Santiago will fall in line and just go along for the ride. Did Team Santiago interview other candidates? Did Team Santiago look at the facts? Did Team Santiago look at the track record of the judges? Remember at election time where Cooper and Pepitone's allegiances lie. It is not with the citizens of Millville – they just do what they are told.