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WARREN -- Judge Matt Lynch, who hasn't yet completed a year on the 11th District Court of Appeals, filed for a separate seat on the same judicial body.
Lynch, a Republican, said he filed nominating petitions to challenge incumbent Judge Timothy P. Cannon, a Democrat, because "I don't think anyone should run unopposed. I don't think it's a good idea."
Lynch also said Cannon has served on the court of appeals for too long. Cannon, of Painesville, was appointed in 2007 to a vacant seat by then-Gov. Ted Strickland. He was elected to full six-year terms in 2008 and 2014.
"He's been there for a long time," Lynch said.
Cannon is the only other candidate as of Tuesday to file for his seat, a term that starts Feb. 9, 2021.
Lynch, of Bainbridge Township, was elected in the November 2018 election to a six-year term that began this past Feb. 10. He's been on the bench for about 10 months.
Lynch, 68, would be barred from running for re-election in 2024 because of the state's age-limit law on judges. Once a person turns 70, they cannot run for a judicial position under Ohio law.
But by running in the 2020 election and winning, Lynch would be able to extend his time on the court of appeals by another two years.
Lynch said that wasn't the reason he was challenging Cannon.
"If I win, as I expect to do, then we'll have new blood on the court and that's a good thing," he said. "It's much more about new minds coming to the court" than extending his time on the bench.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, would appoint Lynch's replacement if he was elected.
When asked what would happen if someone else filed for the seat by today's filing deadline, Lynch said, "I'd reconsider running again."
Lynch reiterated that Cannon, the most senior of the five judges on the 11th District Court of Appeals, has "been there a long time."
Lynch said those who run for the General Assembly and for statewide executive branch seats can hold those positions for up to eight years under the state's term-limits law. He said there should be a similar law for the judicial branch.
Asked if he has an issue with Cannon, Lynch said, "Tim and I get along very well."
Lynch was elected in 2007 as a Bainbridge Township trustee. He unsuccessfully ran in 2011 for Chardon Municipal Court judge. He was appointed in April 2012 to the Ohio House's 76th District seat and was elected to a full two-year term in the November 2012 election. Two years later, he opted to run in the Republican primary against U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township, in the 14th Congressional District. Joyce won 65 percent to 35 percent. Lynch also lost the 2016 GOP primary 65 percent to 35 percent.
Lynch filed to run again against Joyce in the 2018 primary, but withdrew.
Instead, he challenged incumbent Judge Colleen O'Toole in the 2018 Republican primary for a seat on the 11th District Court of Appeals. He beat her 56 percent to 44 percent and went on to win the general election against Darya Klammer, a Democrat, in the general election 56 percent to 44 percent.
In the other 11th District Court of Appeals race, incumbent Cynthia Westcott Rice of Brookfield filed in the Democrat primary for re-election. Sarah Kovoor of Warren has filed in the Republican primary.
The 11th District Court, based in Warren, includes Trumbull, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Portage counties.