In addition to a slate of local races, Western Racine County voters next Tuesday will have a choice of candidates in two contests for open seats on the Racine County Circuit Court.
Burlington attorney Tim Boyle and Racine attorney/municipal judge Mark Nielsen are seeking the Branch 10 seat that is open due to the retirement of Judge Richard Kreul.
The other race – for the Branch 5 seat – pits recently appointed Judge Michael Nieskes against Racine attorney and Waterford resident Michael Piontek.
Both of the seats carry six-year terms.
Branch 10:
Tim Boyle
Age: 45
Occupation: Private practice attorney in Burlington and supplemental Racine County Court commissioner.
Education: Undergraduate degree in journalism/public relations from UW-Madison; Hamline Law School, 1992.
Family: Married to Mary Therese; two daughters.
For additional info: www.timboyleforjudge.com
Boyle, 45, currently serves as a supplemental circuit court commissioner in addition to his private practice in Burlington. He is former president of the Racine County Bar Association and served an eight-year term on the district’s Ethics Committee for the office of Lawyer Regulation.
In a press release, Boyle said that as sole practitioner in his office he handles a wide variety of civil, criminal, family, business, real estate and probate cases. This broad experience, he believes, has helped him develop the skills needed to be an effective judge in all areas of the law.
“(I’ve) grown Boyle Law Office for 20 years, guided by the principles of hard work, integrity, justice, tough-mindedness, and good old-fashioned respect,” Boyle said in a posting on his website. “I have handled almost every type of case.”
Mark Nielsen
Age: 57
Occupation: Private practice attorney in Racine and City of Racine municipal judge.
Education: Undergraduate degree in economics and political science from UW-Parkside; Harvard Law School, 1979.
Family: Divorced; two children.
For additional info: www.judgenielsen2012.com
Nielsen has been in private practice for 30 years after starting out his career as an assistant district attorney in Racine County. He has been a City of Racine municipal judge since 2006, hearing as many as 15,000 cases per year – most of them regarding non-criminal violations.
In addition, he has served as a circuit court commissioner for 25 years and is currently chairman of the Supreme Court’s local Ethics Committee.
“Fairness and hard work are the defining characteristics of a good judge,” Nielsen said. “I hope I have demonstrated both (as a municipal judge). I look forward to continuing to serve the people of this county in a broader role.”
Branch 5:
Michael Nieskes
Age: 57
Occupation: Recently appointed Racine County Circuit Court judge; former district attorney.
Education: Undergraduate degree from UW-Milwaukee; DePaul Law School, Chicago, 1983.
Family: Married to Barbara; two children.
For additional info: www.nieskesforjudge.com
Nieskes served as district attorney since 2005 until his appointment by Gov. Scott Walker to the Branch 5 judge’s seat in December to fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Dennis Barry. He currently presides over the court’s civil branch.
Nieskes has spent the vast majority of his career as a prosecutor, starting out in southern Illinois, and eventually joining the Racine County office as an assistant district attorney in 1989. He stepped into the top county prosecutor’s spot after running unopposed in 2005.
In that role he helped establish the Alternatives to Incarceration Through Education program for delinquent children and the Drug Treatment Court.
In a posting on his website, Nieskes contends he has shown he is not afraid to make difficult decisions by applying firm, yet fair judgment using measured and well reasoned discretion.
Michael Piontek
Age: 62
Occupation: Private practice attorney in Racine.
Education: Undergraduate degree in accounting and finance from UW-Whitewater; Marquette Law School.
Family: Divorced and remarried to Mary Olson; two children.
For additional info: piontekforjudge.com
Piontek has practiced law in Racine for 38 years, including stints as an assistant district attorney, assistant corporation counsel and circuit court commissioner. He is presently “of counsel” to the law firm of Knuteson, Powers & Quinn.
In 1997, Piontek was named Attorney of the Year by the Wisconsin Bar Association for law-related education. He has served on several local boards and was an elected member of the School Board for the Racine Unified School District.
In a press release, Piontek touted his varied experiences representing individuals and businesses in every branch of Racine Circuit Court. He has tried more than 200 jury trials locally and in other state circuit and federal courts.
“I believe that a circuit court judge should have extensive experience in all areas of the law,” Piontek said in the release. “Judges rotate assignments every two years and preside over all areas of the law. I have the necessary experience, temperament and judgment to serve as the next Circuit Court Branch 5 judge.”
Boyle, Piontek voted ‘most qualified’ by bar members
Members of the Racine County Bar Association believe Circuit Court judge candidates Tim Boyle and Michael Piontek more qualified than their opponents in Tuesday’s spring election.
Keeping tradition with its bylaws, the bar association polls its members prior to an election “as to the individual you believe is most qualified based on personal knowledge, investigation or experience.”
The organization released the results of the poll March 13.
In the Branch 5 contest, the attorneys favored Piontek, a Racine-based private practice attorney and Waterford resident, over Judge Michael Nieskes, the former district attorney who was appointed to the bench in December, 65-32. Twenty-one of the attorneys responding to the poll believed they were equally qualified.
In the Branch 10 race, Boyle, a Burlington private practice attorney, out-polled Mark Nielsen, a Racine attorney and municipal judge, 47-40. Of the respondents, 32 deemed the candidates equally qualified.
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