The Municipal League of King County

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224

Seattle, WA 98104

 

2005 Board of Trustees

 

Rita Brogan, Chair

Mark Troxel, Vice Chair

Beth M. Arman, Secretary

Harold Taniguchi, Treasurer

 

Putnam Barber, Executive Alliance

Vaughnetta J. Barton, community volunteer

Jill D. Bowman, Stoel Rives

Patricia Bowman, human resources manager (ret.)

Bruce Carter, judge pro tem, Seattle Municipal Court

Kevin Carter, Safeco

Stephanie Cirkovich, Pike Place Market PDA

Peter Coates, Building and Construction Trades Council

Chris Cooper, CHHIP

Paul Demitriades, Medina City Council (ret.)

Sandra Driscoll, City Attorney (ret)

Deborah Eddy, Consultant

Keven Franklin, King County

Mary Gates, Consultant

Norma Jean Hanson, Norma Jean Hanson Paralegal Services

Robert Klein, McNaul, Ebel, Nawrot, and Helgren

Eric Laschever, Stoel Rives

Steve Marshall, Snohomish PUD

Rob Neate, Puget Sound Energy

Jennifer Piccolo, citizen activist

Charles Redell, Reporter

Tami Ritoch, Fireside Homes Real Estate Associate

R. Todd Slind, CH2MHill

Lucy Steers, public participation consultant

Harold Taniguchi, King County Department of Transportation

Rashelle Tanner, CRISTA Ministries

David Tarshes, Davis Wright Tremaine

Kate Tate, Weyerhauser

Philip Thompson, Perkins Coie

Mark Troxel, City of Seattle

Wes Uhlman, Wes Uhlman & Associates

Rich White, Boeing

 

 

2005 CANDIDATE BACKGROUND QUESTIONNAIRE
FOR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

 

The Municipal League of King County requests every candidate who participates in the candidate evaluation process to submit background information prior to his/her interview with a candidate evaluation committee.  The questionnaire is the basis of the League’s research and interview process.  The League’s ratings are non-partisan; they are based on standards of Involvement, Effectiveness, Character, and Knowledge, all of which have been developed and refined over the past 90 years.

                                                               

A printed version of the questionnaire is available for candidates who prefer to use the traditional format.  To obtain a hard copy, please contact the League office.  A copy of this questionnaire will be provided to Candidate Evaluation Committee members to help them prepare for your interview.  Candidate responses, except the confidential section, will be available to the general public at the League website. 

 

The Municipal League requests the following materials from candidates.  Please check to make certain you have sent in your:

 

    Candidate Questionnaire

        Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

    Resume (education, employment, and professional activities)

        Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

             Check here if you DO NOT want your resume posted on the Municipal

                   League website

    Campaign Materials

        Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

    Constituent Newsletters and other publications

        Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

    Photograph

        Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

 

Note: Electronically submitted questionnaires are strongly preferred. All materials can be emailed to rebecca@munileague.org.  They can be processed and made available on-line far more rapidly than handwritten or typed submissions.

 

For non-electronic submissions, please print clearly and legibly and return the application as soon as possible in order to allow the committee the greatest amount of time to prepare a complete report on your skills and experience.

 

If you have not yet been contacted to schedule an interview, or if you have questions about the candidate evaluation program, please contact the League office at 206-264-1070.

 

If you have a disability and require accommodation to participate in the candidate evaluation process, please contact Rebecca Cooper at the League office.


SECTION I               

 

BASIC CANDIDATE INFORMATION

 

1.      Name as it will appear on the ballot

 

First Name

Middle Initial or Nick Name

Last Name

Terry

Lee

Jurado

 

2.   Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):

 

Renton Municipal Court Judge

 

3.   Are you the incumbent?                  Yes              No

 

 

4.   How long have you resided in this district/city?

 

5 years

 

5.   How long have you resided in King County?

 

17 years

 

6.   Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan?         Partisan      Nonpartisan         

                                                                                                                       

7.   If partisan, please indicate party:       

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

 

 

Campaign Name:

 

Committee to Re-elect Terry Jurado Renton Municipal Court Judge

 

Address:

 

PO Box 1450

 

City/State/Zip:

 

Renton, WA 98057

 

Campaign Phone:

 

425-687-0209

 

 

Campaign Fax:

 

425-687-0209

 

 

Campaign E-mail:

 

terryjurado@hotmail.com

 

 

Campaign Website:

 

none

 

 

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

 

1.   Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held.  Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.

 

Public Office

Elective or Appointive?

Dates Held

Leadership Role (if any)

Municipal Court Judge

 

Elected

 

1/99 to present

 

Presiding Judge

 

K.C. Mental Health Board

 

Appointed

 

1992 1993

 

Childrens Committee

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

 

2.   If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:

 

Office Title

Year of Run

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 


 SECTION III

 

In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge.  These are defined as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.      In a page or less, why are you running for this office?  (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)

 

Having served as the incumbant judge since 1999 I have a keen awarness of the needs of the Renton Municipal Court. Most of the policies that are in place governing the everday operation of the court were developed and put in place by me. The parties who appear before me know me and what I expect in order to keep the business of the court running smoothly. I have worked very hard to establish my credibility and character in the general community and in the legal community. The staff who work with me in the court are all dedicated professionals. Because of that, this has been the single most rewarding and satisfying job I have had in nearly 30 years of public service. Neither of the other two candidates have the breadth of experience needed to step in and assume the responsibilities of running a very busy one judge municipal court. It is my goal to continue serving the citizens of Renton to the best of my ability. In order to do so I intend to work as hard as possible to make sure that the Renton court continues to have the best qualified and most dedicated judge. To that end I am resolved to prevail in this election.

 


 

2.      Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.

 

To be a successful jurist there are a number of characteristics one must possess. I believe I have all of those necessary characteristics. First, I have very refined listening skills. There is a distinction to be made between simply hearing what one is saying and listening to what is being said. This is a skill that is absolutly necessary in order to make decisions that could affect an individual's liberty or property interests. Second, I have a personality that is non-confrontational. As a result, I have an ability to bring parties together in an effort to resolve conflict. This is an essential skill particularly in a busy court where it it absolutly necessary to resolve cases efficiently. Finally, I have life experiences that not all judges have.

 

I was raised in poverty by a single mother who worked two jobs for 20 years to support our family. She was an inspiration to me. I learned what it means to be dedicated to family and self, and what can be accomplished through hard work. As a result I was the first member of my immediate and extended family to graduate from high school and college. My mother lived long enough to see me graduate from law school and become a judge. She was very proud of me, but words could not express how proud I was of her.

 

My life experiences allow me to not only identify with many of the citizens who come before me but to understand how circumstances can dictate human behavior. I can appreciate how poverty affects families and how to best resolve issuse that come before me.

 

3.      Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud.  These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking.  These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life. 

 

I grew up in poverty in the suburbs of Los Angeles, CA.  My sister and I were raised by a single mother.  At that time education was not considered a priority in my immediate or extended family. Instead my mother believed and taught us that hard work and dedication to a job was the best way to succeed.  My sister dropped out of high school in the 10th grade. I considered dropping out in the 11th grade. An English teacher took an interest in, and mentored me. I did not drop out, instead I went on to be the only high school graduate in my immediate or extended family. For me, this was my single greatest accomplishment. Everything that followed could not have been possible without that single life event.

 

Applying the principals Iearned from my mother about hard work and dedication to one's job, in nearly 30 years of public service I have been successful in each endeavor I have undertaken.

 

Applying the lessons of my past  to my present position of municipal judge I have a keen awareness of the human condition.  I know what it is to be in need; what it means to live in desparation.  My experiences have prepared me to assess the people who appear before me as individuals who have individual needs. I have learned that there is very important distinction between hearing what is said and listening to what is said.  


 

4.      Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek.  Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved.  Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.

 

From 1976 through approximately 1985 I was a Boy Scout Master. I mentered young men teaching them lessons regarding service to their community, and commitment to family.

 

During the years 1979, through 1985 I was active in health outreach programs. In addition to my duties as a United States Public Health Advisor I volunteered as a lecturer going into high schools throughout Texas, Alabama, Arizona, and North Carolina speaking to young people about sexually transmitted diseases. I discussed how diseases are transmitted and how to prevent them.  During this same time period while in North Carolina I established a program wherein prostitutes could attend a clinic where I and other volunteers would perform examinations and provide treatment for a variety of health conditions.  

 

In 1990 while working for the King County Prosecutor, I acquired specialized knowledge of street gangs, and street gang violence. As a member of the "Gang Unit" I volunteered to speak in high schools and other venues regarding gang violence and prevention measures to minimize gang involvement.

 

Sometime during 1990 I was appointed as a member of the King County Mental Health Board. I served in that capacity until approximately 1992. While on the board I was on the Children's Committee.

 

I have served as a volunteer moot court judge for both the YMCA and the Seattle University School of Law.

 

Sometime during early 1990 I was on the founding board of the Hispanic Bar Association. I remained an active member in that organization until approximately 1993.

 

In 1999 I became a member of the Renton Rotary. While a member of Rotary I participated in a variety of community activities.

 

Since 1999 I have intermittently mentored law school students from the University of Washington School of  Law.

 

Since 1999 I have participated in a variety of community activities associated with my position as Renton Municipal Court Judge.

 

Since 1999 I have in my capacity as judge performed outreach efforts to seniors in our community lecturing on the jury system and educating them about jury service.

 

My experiences as a parent have taught me skills one could never learn from a book. I have raised 7 children and am currently raising two more. A family is a microcosm of our society. In dealing with the conflicts, accomplishments, failures and successes of a large family I have acquired skills relevant to my job such as mediation, conflict resolution, credibility assessments, and a great deal of patience.

 

It is difficult to assess how all these activities have given me skills relevant to my job, but I believe everything I have done through my life has prepared me for this job.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Please describe the duties of the office you seek.  Which are the most important duties and why?

 

There are two components of the job of Presiding Judge in the Renton Municipal Court.

 

The first component is sitting as the only judge in a very busy municipal court. The Renton Court is responsible for processing criminal and civil cases filed by the City of Renton. Once a case is filed, a series of hearings are scheduled in both criminal and civil matters. I, as the judge, am responsible for facilitating and conducting those heaings.  Regarding which duties are most important; all duties are equally important. The reason they are all equally important is because there are procedures that must be followed in each case. If those procedures are not followed a party may suffer great prejudice. The judge who sits as presiding judge must be knowledgable in not only in the law, but also in the procedures that must be followed in the administration of the law.

 

The second component of this position is manager and administrator. The Renton Municipal Court is a separate and independent branch of government.  It is also a department of city government with a budget in excess of 1.5 million dollars. There are aproximately 14 full-time employees. The judge is responsible for the day to day operation of the court and the working conditions of all employees.  All duties of the judge as administrator and manager are equally important. Managing the working conditions and well being of the city employees in the court are paramount to all other duties of the administrator.


EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

 

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website.  It includes a summary of the candidate’s education.  Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined).  The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry.  Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired). 

 

Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.

 

Juris Doctor                

Law, Seattle University School of Law       1988

 

Bachalor of Science  

US History/Native American Studies, Arizona State University 1979

 

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

 

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement.  Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below.  We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted.  Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined).  It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important.  If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed. 

 

Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report.  If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.

 

  Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Judicial Candidate Questionnaire

 

1.   Briefly describe the nature of your current practice/position including types of clients and areas, if any, of specialization.  State what percentage involves civil litigation, criminal litigation, and/or nonlitigation.

 

    I am currently the incumbant Renton Municipal Court Judge. I do not have a practice nor do I have clients.

 

2.   Identify all your experience as a neutral decision maker (e.g. judge, permanent or pro tem, in any jurisdiction, administrative law judge, hearing officer, arbitrator, etc.)

 

  Presiding Municipal Court Judge (Elected)

1/1999 - Present                                   City of Renton Washington

 

Manage the day-to-day operations of a municipal court with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million dollars. Supervise a court staff of approximately 14 employees. Preside over jury trials, bench trials, and all other proceedings associated with a criminal trial court. Case management, decision writing, legal research, and computer proficiency are necessary components of the job.

 

Pro Tem Judge

 

8/1992 – 1/1999                 King County District Court      Various Locations

 

1993 - 1/1999                     Seattle Municipal Court

 

1993 -  1/1999                     Tukwila Municipal Court

 

Administrative Law Judge

 

6/1992 – 1/1999                 State of Washington Office of Administrative hearings

                                            Seattle, WA

 

Presided over administrative hearings pursuant to state and Federal Administrative Procedures Act. Responsible for administrative hearings for:

Washington State Patrol (Trooper Discipline)

Washington State Patrol (Asset Forfeiture)

Washington Department of Labor and Industries (Contractor Compliance) (Electrical Board)

(Apprentice Training)

Washington Civil Rights Commission

Washington Department of Employment Security

Washington State Whistle Blower Act

 

3.   If you have been a judge, identify any court committees on which you have served or administrative positions you have held, including dates.

 

    Board For Court Education       1999 - 2002

    District And Municipal Court Judges Association

          Rural Court Committee  1999-2000 approx

          Diversity Committee        2000-2001 approx

          Conference Planning Committee 2002-2003 approx

 


 

4.   List the approximate percentage of your time over the last five years you have made appearances in:

 

  100  

% municipal court

 

    

% state district court

 

    

% superior court

 

     

% federal district court

 

    

% appellate court

 

    

% administrative tribunals

 

5.   Are you now an officer or director of any business enterprise other than your law practice?  If so, what role do you expect to play if elected?

 

    No

 

6.   Have you ever been disciplined or determined to be in breach of professional conduct by any court, administrative agency, bar association, disciplinary committee, judicial conduct commission, or other professional group?  Have you ever had a formal complaint filed against you with the WSBA?  If so for either or both questions, give the particulars, including the outcome.

 

    No


 

7.   ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

 

a)      List the names, daytime and home phone numbers of three recent opposing counsel, including at least two cases that went to trial.

 

Name of Opposing Counsel

Daytime Phone

Home Phone

 

    No recent opposing counsel

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

a)      If you have served as a neutral decision maker, list the names, daytime and home phone numbers of the last four attorneys who have appeared before you.

 

Name of Attorney

Daytime Phone

Home Phone

 

Wm. Michelman

 

  253-582-3387   

 

    

 

Raymond Connell

 

  206-583-0050  

 

    

 

Matthew Rusnak 

 

  253-779-0244  

 

    

 

  Frank Davidson  

 

  425-255-8641  

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished!

If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org).  Mail and fax numbers are listed below.  If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.

 

Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League:  a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials.  Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAMPAIGN!

 

THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY

 

Candidate Evaluation Coordinator:  Rebecca Cooper

 

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224                  Phone: 206-264-1070                Email: rebecca@munileague.org

Seattle, WA 98104-1614                        Fax: 425-671-0506                        Website: www.munileague.org