Passionate about being a judge.
That is how Tom Miller and his supporters describe him as a candidate for Onondaga County Court Judge.
“You are able to see a difference that you can make in somebody’s life,” said Miller.
Miller, the village justice for Fayetteville, is the Republican candidate for county judge. He faces Democrat Gordon Cuffy, an attorney for the county. The judge’s office is open, because Judge William Walsh retired. The county court has two other judges: Anthony Aloi and Joseph Fahey. Onondaga County judges serve 10-year terms and earn $147,100 a year.
Election Day is Nov. 6.
In his campaign, Miller highlights his experience as Fayetteville justice, his experience as a lawyer and his service to the community. His supporters say he’s also a family man, flexible and able to handle a variety of cases.
Tom Miller (Janine Mack)
In a favorite personal description, Miller explains his passion for the bench this way: “Being a judge is more than doing the job 9 – 5. It’s who you are. It’s your identity.”
Miller is from Corning, N.Y. After graduating from high school, he worked a year at Corning Glass Works. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a law degree from Syracuse University. He and his wife Martha have six children, ranging in age from 10 to 20.
Miller coaches Little League and basketball in Fayetteville and in Manlius. He was the vice-president of the Onondaga County Bar Association. He mentors other village and town justices.
Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olsen worked with Miller for 12 years. “He’s already a judge in a lower court and it’s important for the county judge to already have experience,” said Olsen. He describes the village justice’s role as handling one of the busiest courts in the county, with cases ranging from DWI to small claims lawsuits.
And the village justice, said Olsen, is always on call for police. “If they need to get a judge in the middle of the night, they will call him. They can trust him to be there, they trust him to get it right and to make sure everything is done right for the defendant and for the police department,” Olsen said.
Olsen cited Miller’s passion for the job and his ability to work with people from all walks of life. “Numerous police officers say they really like dealing with him and the way he does it,” said Olsen.
Don Hamilton is the GOP’s town chair for Onondaga. He supports Miller, he said, because of his sincerity. “He’s honest and he’s fair. He’ll be tough when he has to be,” said Hamilton.
For his campaign, Miller is also endorsed by the Conservative Party, Independence Party, Veteran’s Party, Teamsters Local 317, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 267, Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission and Central New York Women’s Bar Association.
The Post-Standard has reported that Miller’s campaign has raised $76,439 and he has taken out a personal $10,000 loan. He’s spending some of his own money because, he said, “I don’t think it’s right for any candidate to ask people for something that you’re not ready, willing and able to do yourself.”
On Election Day, Miller and his campaign will give rides to voters who need help getting to the polls. “Most campaigns,” he said, “are willing to bring that person down to exercise their right to vote.”
(Janine Mack is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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