Saturday, February 13, 2010

Blaber New's Poll: Keep the Ball in our Court

A match up between Judge Larry Ball and Tom Petro would be a blowout according to a recent Blaber News poll, with more than 70% of people saying they would back Ball over Kingston attorney Tom Petro.

Larry Ball became full time city court Judge in January, with the election of Judge James P. Gilpatric to the NYS Supreme Court. Ball will run for a full term in a special election this November.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I say bounce the Ball out of the court.

Anonymous said...

[1] Vote for Little Dick for city Judge.

..At least that would shut him up for 10 years ;)... Couldn't do TV anymore.

BA-ba-Booey

Anonymous said...

you still haven't mentioned mike bruyn who also is being considered for city judge in your poll,which is always answered by the democratic committeemen.bruyn is one of the two republican candidates being considered by the republicans city committee.

Anonymous said...

Where is Mike Bruhn on your poll? You, who always exclaims to have your finger on the pulse of politics? Might be you are not listening closely.
As to Ball, anybody that close to the Mayor is suspect in my mind.

Anonymous said...

10:04 claims that the Mayor and Judge Ball are close. Have you EVER seen the Mayor and the Judge interacting either socially or professionally??? If so name the time and place! I would guess that you havent. So, its safe to assume that in your simple mind anyone with a D next to their name is close to the mayor and then "suspect". Suspect of what??

Anonymous said...

Poll seems about right. Ball has been a judge in that court for almost three years. The Court runs smoothly and he is popular with defense attorneys, the district attorneys and the police. He is the only candidate with that kind of experience. This isn't a political job and there is simply no reason to put a new untested person in that very important position.

Anonymous said...

The republican committee may be wary of bruhn due to the shellacking he got in Kingston against Gilpatric.

Anonymous said...

10:04 - Ball is not an incumbent - he was never elected. Ball was appointed by Sottile because he was Brad Jordan's attorney. Brad gives lots of money to the mayor and Ball was Brad's choice. That's why I'm not supporting Ball this November and I'm a Democrat. We don't need Brad's money dictating who runs and who doesn't run for office. That's not democracy.

Anonymous said...

You conspiracy theory people crack me up. how do you know why the mayor chose Ball? Isn't it at least possible that he was the best candidate? Regardless, by all accounts he is a good Judge, even Rich Cahill has said as much on his television program. If he is a good judge, with 3 years experience, why should we take a chance on somebody with no experience and hope he does a good job?

Anonymous said...

He's a great Judge, I have been in front of him a number of times and it is always a pleasure. Rich Cahill on the other hand would not know what a court room looks like, ask Ken Bruno.

Anonymous said...

1:42. Exactly.!!! This is what I mean't. What would have happened if Ball's wife was elected councilwoman of Ward 6??? Hmmmmm..
signed: 10:04
(the simpleton)!!

Anonymous said...

Fuck you haters, I love Larry Ball and he will win. Ball is for the people, a family man and Kingston's own...as for Bruhn what are his qualifications except being the former County Court Judge's Son? Ask Vince Bradley Jr., how that worked out for him!! I'm with Blaber,let's keep the Ball in our court!!!

Anonymous said...

1:42 - Incumbent just means that he is the guy in the office when election time rolls around. It doesn't matter if he was elected or appointed, he's still the incumbent. Since he was appointed, on the other hand, he can't ask people to "re-elect" him, which makes it tough to point out on yard signs that he is the incumbent.

Anonymous said...

Lets take a look at the Jordan theory.... Brad Jordan can afford to hire any attorney he wants, so ofcourse he hires the best. That would be Larry Ball. Lets look at who he did not hire... His neighbors brother...That would be Mike Bruhn Jr. Speaks volumes!!!

Anonymous said...

F....Y.....haters? Great language.I am sure Ball would welcome your endorsement with your great command of the english language.

Anonymous said...

7:58 - you're right about the definition of incumbent. But as far as Brad paying for the "best", that may not necessarily be true. Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley didn't go to the best doctor; they went to the doctor who would do as they asked. Who knows if Larry Ball was the best? Maybe Larry Ball just did whatever Brad wanted him to. Larry Ball may be a great judge (hopefully I'll never know), but his ties to Brad Jordan and the mayor leave me queasy. I hope the Reps put somebody decent up.

Anonymous said...

Ball is qualified. He lacks the adversities of his predecessor too. He will be the next elected Judge, end of story. Now lets move on.

Patty Olives

Anonymous said...

Comparing Brad Jordan to Elvis and Michael Jackson?? A little streatch! Any way, back to reality. I have been practicing Law in the City of Kingston for over 30 years. I am not with any political party. In my many years, I have gone before more judges than I care to think about. I have both won and lost cases in front of Judge Ball and I can say from personal experience that he is always fair, honest,respectful, considerate and he knows the law! I am so glad that I still live in the City of Kingston.It will be an honor voting for Ball this November.

Anonymous said...

9:48 makes a great analogy. We all know what happened in that scenario.
A possible example of Jordan & Mayor's connection is the debacle with Westbrook lane. All of a sudden we had to maintain and "pay" for road's existance or risk a lawsuit? This was done at the city's lowest economic situation. Who benefitted???
Judges should always take the moral highground or ethical approach in decisions coming from the bench but as history shows that is not always the case. When you have even the slightest of connection to an individual party that makes me uneasy in any decision Ball might render. Ulster County has such a reputation of a "good ole' boy network" and nepotism. As a taxpayer, I am hoping the last bastion in fighting this would be the court system where laws and rules are supposed to be enforced and impartial.

Anonymous said...

10:36 either you are joking or you have a dog in the fight. You are finding this apparently good judge unfit because he worked as an attorney for one of Kingstons most prominent citizens. One of its biggest taxpayers. Somebody who donates his land for use by the Babe Ruth League. Who hosts the childrens day parade at Kingston Plaza. Who, from what I can tell, must sponsor more youth teams and worthwhile causes than any person in Kingston. Who else is unfit his insurance man, his Dentist, his Plumber. Who wouldn't want this guy as a client? Petro? Bruhn Jr. By the way, speaking of Nepotism Bruhn Jr. is the son of retired County Court Judge Mike Bruhn Sr. how do you get more good old boy than that?

Anonymous said...

To 6:45- Thank you! Brad Jordan and his family's business gives so much back to this community. It's a shame that people talk about him like he is some sort of criminal to further their own personal/political agendas.

Anonymous said...

Oh yea, the Jordan/Elvis/Michael Jackson analogy is a good one....to the insane!!!

Anonymous said...

So...why are we extolling the virtues of Brad Jordan instead of Larry Ball? He's the one who's running. I don't think anyone has written that Ball is unqualified; it's his connection to the mayor that people don't like. Sometimes it's guilt by association.

Anonymous said...

Never said Jordan was a criminal. Just ,maybe, too influential!

6:45 just listed his services. An awful lot that the city owes him???How can we ever repay him?

Anonymous said...

6:23 You don't say what the mayor is guilty of other than you not liking his decisions. You also don't say what the association is. As far as I can tell the only association is that Ball is a Dem and Sottile appointed him. Sounds like guilt by imagination to me.

Anonymous said...

I believe that the Mayor appointed Judge Gilpatric three years ago to the full time position in February when Feeney retired. So was Gilpatric quilty of being "to close" to the mayor as well??? Or is it just Ball?? OR, is it anyone other than Bruhn Jr.?? Just wondering!

Anonymous said...

10:25 - Ball just became a Democrat a few months ago. He's never done anything for any Democrat at all. Because he was Brad's attorney, and Sottile vacations at Brad's condo in FL, his (Sottile's) appointment of Ball was nothing more than returning a favor. Sottile doesn't reward loyalty or hard work, he only rewards those who've given him money. A pay-to-play culture doesn't always yield the most qualified, competent candidate. Unfortunately, in Kingston, what's happening is those that are much more deserving (i.e., has worked hard for the party AND competent) are shut out of the process. Ball might be well qualified, but there are other people who might have wanted to step forward to toss their hat into the ring, but are turned away because they haven't made the necessary monetary contributions. Consequently, constituents are left with candidates, and ultimately elected officials, who only got there because of their wealth, not because of their ability. There is supposed to be a legitimate vetting process, not a coronation.

Anonymous said...

Amen 10:07!! Can I get another Amen???

Anonymous said...

So who,10:07, is it you think is more qualified and more competent? Ball has been there for almost three years and from the accounts of even the opposition he is doing a good job. Why replace him? Still nobody will just answer that question. Why replace a good judge no matter who appointed him or who he knows?

Anonymous said...

Actually, Ball may not want to be associated with the Mayor. The Mayor doesn't seem to have the "golden touch" as far as many Kingstonians are concerned. Might, in fact, be a handicap in this horse race.

Anonymous said...

Why no article on Ball's decisive victory in the poll.

Anonymous said...

It is clear from both polls that whom ever the republicans put up against Ball will have a very difficult battle. Ball has no baggage just a very good reputation as a judge. If you don't believe that ask someone who works with him or a cop or a local lawyer. You will be hard pressed to find a negative comment about the man. My vote is for Ball. I missed the poll but I wont miss election day!