By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Two different Racine County Circuit Court judge races are on the ballot for local voters on Tuesday.
David Paulson and Tricia Hanson are vying for the Branch 6 judge position, while Joseph Seifert is challenging longtime Judge Allan “Pat” Torhorst for the Branch 9 position.
Branch 6
Paulson has his own law firm – David W. Paulson, LLC – in Racine, having worked in private practice for more than 40 years. He has also been a judge in the Village of Caledonia for 33 years.
Paulson said, in the past six years, he has built a recognized mediation practice promoting conflict resolution.
“It is time to move forward with this experience,” he said.
If elected, Paulson said he would promote efforts to protect victims, witnesses and law enforcement both in and out of the courthouse in Racine, as well as push for accountability from all participants in efficient disposition of pending cases.
Paulson has a long list of endorsements, including Judges Eugene Gasiorkiewicz, Mike Piontek, Marvin Daniel, Richard Scholze, and attorneys Dennis Lynch, Mike Kelly, Brian Wanasek, Kelly Iselin and Amy Zott in the Burlington area.
Hanson, meanwhile, is currently the deputy district attorney for Racine County. She has worked on and off with the department since an internship there in 1994. She returned full-time in 2003 after her daughter was born.
Hanson returned to prosecuting felony court cases in 2009 and said that, in her career, she has prosecuted every type of serious felony crime.
Hanson also has a long list of endorsements, including Attorney General Brad Schimel, District Attorney Rich Chiapete, Rep. Robin Vos, City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller, Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling and several area police chiefs – including Burlington’s Peter Nimmer.
She also gained endorsements from Judges Faye Flancher and Charles Constantine.
Hanson did not return a request for further information.
Branch 9
Torhorst was first elected to circuit court in 1991. With divisions of the court rotating every two years, he has been in every division at least twice.
Before that, he was a lawyer in Burlington since 1966.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” he said. “The reason I’m running again is because I enjoy the job and I intend to continue it.”
Seifert is from Raymond. He has run unsuccessfully in the past for state Legislature, has served as a board member for the Muskego-Norway School Board and is a former Grand Knight and current Trustee for the Knights of Columbus.
On his Webpage, he cites his commitment to the community as an importance factor to consider him as a judge – as well his time as a lawyer. He is a relatively new lawyer, having been in practice in the state for about five years.
“As a judge it is my goal to continue supporting my community and making a difference in the lives of others,” he wrote.
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