After knocking off incumbent Nathan B. Stewart six years ago for Div. 3 circuit judge, Dianna Bartels faces two challengers in her bid to win a second term.
Opposing Bartels in the Aug. 2 Republican Party’s primary election are veteran assistant prosecuting attorney Travis Partney, a former associate circuit judge, and Michelle Hughes.
No Democrats filed for the seat, so the winner of the primary election will go on to serve a six-year term.
Neither Bartels nor Hughes returned a Leader candidate questionnaire.
Partney was appointed in 2016 by then-Gov. Jay Nixon to fill the Division 13 associate circuit judge vacancy, but lost the election for the final two years of the four-year term that same year to Katherine Hardy Senkel.
Circuit judges serve six-year terms and are paid $159,578 per year.
PARTNEY, 42, of Imperial is the first assistant prosecuting attorney in the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children. A 1998 graduate of Hillsboro High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in forensic communication and philosophy from Southeast Missouri State University in 2002 and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2005.
Website: votepartney.com
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Partney: I have more than a decade of experience, prosecuting murder, domestic violence and child abuse cases. I have dealt with every aspect of criminal and civil cases, including interviewing witnesses, explaining the judicial process with victims and working closely with law enforcement. My experience also comes from having a history of listening and learning from courthouse clerks, court reporters and various judges throughout my career.
What training and experiences have equipped you for this position?
Partney: I have spent almost my entire career in the courtroom. I have tried murder cases, drug cases and cases involving abuse of children. I have worked in civil court, handling divorces, custody cases and other litigation. I have experience as an attorney and as a judge, and I work successfully with law enforcement. I have first-hand, in-courtroom experience working with victims of crime, as well as with clients trying to understand and navigate the system. I understand that our courts should function in a fair and efficient manner, and I want to work to make our system better.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Partney: I have built my career on working to keep Jefferson County safe, and I am committed to continuing that work. I have strong relationships with law enforcement and have been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Arnold Police Officers Association.
I have the experience required to make our courts more efficient and fair while still working to hold those who break the law accountable.
I would create and implement a program to help educate the public about judges so that voters are better informed when making the important decision of who to vote for.