By Wayne Gates –

There will be a race for Brown County Municipal Judge this year.
Jessica Little and Michele Harris both declared their intention to run for the office at the Brown County GOP Lincoln/Reagan Celebration Dinner on March 31.
Current Brown County Municipal Judge Joseph Worley will also be seeking another term.
Both women spoke briefly to dinner guests about their political intentions.  Little was Brown County Prosecuting Attorney from 2009 through 2016.  She currently serves as a magistrate in Brown County Municipal Court.
“When people walk into a courtroom, they deserve to have someone who will hear their matter fairly and impartially.  If you vote for me for me as municipal court judge, I promise to fulfill my duties in a fair and impartial manner,” Little said.
Harris has worked for the Brown County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and served as interim Brown County Clerk of Courts in 2012.  She currently works as a prosecutor in Adams County Juvenile Court.
“I have spent almost ten years being an assistant prosecuting attorney.  In that time, I’ve handled cases in every court.  I’ve also had several felony jury trials including cases involving kidnapping, rape and drug cases.  I’ve also been a mayor’s court magistrate and in that capacity, I’ve had almost eighty trials and sentenced many more defendants,” Harris said.
“It would be a privilege and honor to serve as your next Brown County Municipal Court Judge.  I hope to have your vote in November.”
Worley has been on the bench for 11 years and is reaching the end of his second six year term.
“I hope to be re-elected on my record and my ability to remain within my budget,” said Worley in a telephone interview.
“My main concern is always the safety of the public.  To that end, we are going to hire someone at Talbert House through funds I have available to be a caseworker for heroin addicts.  What we are going to do is offer them a few more services, track them better, and hopefully get a better result from Vivitrol and counseling.”
Worley said the idea is modeled after a program in Highland County which is showing success.
“I feel there is still work to be done.  I’ve been here watching the heroin problem explode and we’ve got a new idea with some more support and I would like to be the one to continue working on the problem.”
The non-partisan race is scheduled for November 7 of this year.  Since the race will be non-partisan, there will be no primary, and the candidate with the highest number of votes will be the winner.
Candidates for the office must turn in petitions by May 1.  As of press time, neither Little, Harris or Worley had turned in petitions to the Brown County Board of Elections.