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WARREN -- Issues of experience and questions about an incumbent judge's backing, as well as personal and past conduct matters, loom large over candidates in this year's Warren Municipal Court judicial contest.
Two Democrats in the primary are vying for the six-year term of the open seat being vacated by Warren Municipal Judge Terry Ivanchak.
Traci L. Timko, who is the court's prosecutor, faces Patty Leopardi Knepp in the primary.
The winner, so far, would face no opposition in the fall, barring entry of a nonparty or write-in candidate, according to the Trumbull County Board of Elections.
The Warren Municipal Court has jurisdiction over Warren, Warren Township, Howland and Champion, and hears misdemeanor and traffic cases, as well as preliminary felony hearings, civil cases up to $15,000 and small claims cases that do not exceed $6,000.
TRACI L. TIMKO
"Serving this community and its citizens is not only my profession, but it is also my passion," Timko said.
Her endeavors include fostering a sense of trust and respect for the legal system and police, and treating individuals with compassion and respect, she said.
For the past 22 years, Timko has served as Warren Municipal Court prosecutor, the first woman to hold that position.
"I have prosecuted thousands of criminals, bringing justice to countless victims. Our citizens deserve a community where we all feel safe and want to raise our children," she said.
Timko said she also has helped lead Warren police through sweeping reforms that focused on increased training, reporting, investigations and transparency.
"Those efforts reduced citizen complaints and lawsuits and dramatically improved relations between the agency and community," she said.
Among the experiences that helped shape her career, Timko said, are Crisis Intervention Training, the Citizens Police Academy, Trumbull-Mahoning Domestic Violence Collaborative, neighborhood associations, civic organizations and church groups.
She is married to Tim Sabau, and is the mother of three children and a stepson.
Her mother, Jane Timko, retired as detective with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office, where her brother, Nick, is a lieutenant.
Prior to her time as prosecutor with the municipal court, Timko worked in criminal defense, civil and domestic work and still handles civil cases like nuisance abatement as prosecutor.
Timko asserts that her opponent running on experience is "a little deceptive" given that she only has "six criminal or traffic cases" in municipal court in 13 years.
"The experience in municipal court comes from seeing a case through," Timko said.
Timko hopes to end the revolving door of violent offenders by imposing stiffer sentences. Her plans also call for increased alternative sentencing options such as community service for low-level, nonviolent offenders.
She also hopes to improve offender oversight to help reduce recidivism. She would encourage "pretrial linkage," which would provide counseling and treatment prior to sentencing. She also said she would consider specialized mental health court dockets.
She would consider rehabilitation efforts in the form of expungement clinics, driver's license reinstatement clinics and programs, court sponsors, and incorporating churches and civic organizations.
PAST ISSUES
Timko did not shy away from questions about her husband's arrest last year in Columbiana County on charges of engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools.
Timko denied seeking legal favors in her husband's criminal case, specifically denying accusations that she sought help from then-Columbiana assistant prosecutor Sean O'Brien, who now serves as Trumbull Common Pleas Court Judge.
Timko called the claim "outrageous" and said she was not aware that O'Brien was prosecuting the case. She asserted the two "weren't friendly" and pointed out that she worked for Warren Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa, whose wife Dawn Cantalamessa, was running against O'Brien for the common pleas bench in the 2022 primary election.
O’Brien said he was not the assistant prosecutor who handled the case, and was not even aware of the charges until after the case was disposed of.
"He (Sabau) got the same exact sentence that everybody else that shows up without an attorney gets …," Timko said. She said she advised her husband to go to court without an attorney and plead guilty, which he did.
Timko also has faced criticism regarding her 2020 rant on social media that resulted in widespread backlash and disciplinary action.
At the time, Timko criticized citizens who questioned police use-of-force policies after the police-involved shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta.
Timko apologized for her comments, which she assured were made with no intent to offend. Recently reflecting on the situation, Timko said she "supposes she could've softened her tone."
PATTY LEOPARDI KNEPP
Warren-area attorney Leopardi Knepp has been in private practice for nearly 30 years at the law firm her father founded in 1957, John A. Leopardi Co., LPA, in downtown Warren.
She also has served as guardian ad litem for the Trumbull County Domestic / Juvenile Court, is a former assistant law director for Warren and, on occasion, she has served as Warren Municipal Court acting judge.
Working extensively with the Residential Education Alternative and the Warren Workhouse to assist those with misdemeanor offenses afflicted by addiction, Leopardi Knepp is a former board member with the Infant of Prague Manor and past president and longtime supporter of the Trumbull County Humane Society.
Leopardi Knepp and her husband, Duane, have two adult children and two grandchildren. She called running for office a "longstanding thought" stemming from her time as acting judge with the municipal court.
"When you actually sit up there as acting judge, you start to see through the eyes that you never saw through before when you practice law. That's when you start to see all the opportunities you have that can make a difference," Leopardi Knepp said.
Leopardi Knepp was vague when asked about the amount of time she spent on the bench, but information provided by the clerk of courts office upon a Tribune Chronicle request show that throughout the past several years, she has served as acting judge for eight days totaling only 36 hours, including eight hours in 2016 and 28 hours in 2020.
Leopardi Knepp wants to ensure that individuals entering the courtroom understand the court system from pre- to post-litigation to better understand the effect a charge on their record can have.
In her efforts, she's hoping to intervene before "their life starts going down the wrong path."
"I think it stops people from going out and thinking that they've completed aspects of their case, which they have not, and I think that can be done similarly to how we have a court officer addressing it," Leopardi Knepp said.
Having an official to explain the "criminal and civil aspects" of the court system, Leopardi Knepp said, can help people avoid getting in more trouble down the road and end recidivism.
She also expressed a desire to explore expand court hours to include one evening session weekly.
"Regardless of whether a matter is civil or criminal, it can be a hardship for people to have to attend court during established hours due to a conflict with outside work or other obligation schedules," Leopardi Knepp said.
Leopardi Knepp emphasized her "well-rounded qualifications" as a key difference between the two candidates. That includes civil and criminal in all court levels from municipal to appellate and federal court.
LETTER DISPUTE
Two letters, allegedly from Warren Municipal Judge Terry F. Ivanchak to Leopardi Knepp, slam the candidate for her use of the judge's name in "campaign speeches and literature."
Leopardi Knepp said she has not received a letter and questioned its validity. When asked to verify the letters, Ivanchak declined to comment.
The first letter sent April 3 claims usage of the judge's likeness creates an impression that he personally endorses her -- something judges are prohibited from doing under the Code of Judicial Conduct.
After multiple requests urging her to stop, the letter states Leopardi Knepp continued doing so. A second letter sent on April 12, allegedly from the judge, indicates that she "blatantly disregarded my request."
The letter recalls social media posts by Leopardi Knepp's campaign, again using the judge's name after the initial letter.
Leopardi Knepp was advised by letter that the matter would be sent to a board of professional conduct to review. "If it is not, accept this letter as my personal expression of disappointment in your lack of professionalism and integrity," it states.
The candidates
Patty Leopardi Knepp
AGE: 59
ADDRESS: 409 Harmon Ave. NW
PAST OFFICES: Guardian ad litem services with Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Domestic /Juvenile Division; acting judge with Warren Municipal Court; and assistant law director with Warren
QUOTE: "I've practiced on all sides of the aisle and looked at cases from all sides of the aisle."
Traci L. Timko
AGE: 50
ADDRESS: 260 Sanctuary Drive
PAST OFFICES: None
QUOTE: "The experience in municipal court comes from seeing a case through. … That is the challenge. It's where do we go from there?"