Judge Chase will not seek re-election this year
Medina Municipal Court Judge has held seat since 1988
Medina Municipal Court Judge Dale Chase announced Jan. 13 he will not seek re-election to a sixth term this year. File photo by ALLISON WOOD
MEDINA – In a Jan. 13 press release, Medina Municipal Court Judge Dale Chase announced he will not seek re-election to a sixth term this November.
Chase’s fifth and final six-year term will end Dec. 31. He first took office Jan. 1, 1988.
“I thought it was important to make a public announcement so attorneys who might be interested have time to circulate petitions to run for the position,” Chase stated.
The deadline to file petitions with the Medina County Board of Elections for the May 2 primary/special election is Feb. 1.
Prior to being first elected, Chase, a Democrat, served as an acting judge for six years and practiced law in municipal courts for a dozen years.
“The next person to serve in this office should have significant and extensive experience in municipal courts,” Chase said. “I had a clear understanding of the job and its responsibilities before I took office.”
Chase, who is in his 60s, was re-elected four times, most recently in 2011 when he ran unopposed. His time on the bench will total 30 years when he steps down.
“I appreciate that voters gave me the opportunity to serve as judge,” he said. “Every day I get to work to make our communities a safer place and to have a positive impact on people’s lives.”
To date, Chase has resolved 489,825 cases. He expects that total to be over a half million by the time he is finished.
“This is a 24-7, 365-day a year job. I had officers at my house at 2 a.m. New Year’s morning to obtain a search warrant,” he said.
Of the nearly-500,000 cases he’s resolved, 21,103 of them have been OVI cases, something he has traditionally been tough on.
“I am proud to have maintained the policy that OVI cases are not reduced to lesser offenses,” Chase said. “I believe the voters have a right to expect that whoever is elected this year will maintain that policy because it makes our streets and highways safer and protects the families of the people who live, work and visit here.”
Medina Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal, traffic and civil cases, including personal injury, contract disputes, small claims and evictions; and acts in thousands of cases annually to enforce and collect civil judgements for individuals and businesses.
Its jurisdiction includes the cities of Brunswick and Medina, Spencer and Chippewa Lake villages and 11 townships – Liverpool, Brunswick Hills, Hinckley, Litchfield, York, Medina, Granger, Chatham, Lafayette and Montville.
Chase’s fifth and final six-year term will end Dec. 31. He first took office Jan. 1, 1988.
“I thought it was important to make a public announcement so attorneys who might be interested have time to circulate petitions to run for the position,” Chase stated.
The deadline to file petitions with the Medina County Board of Elections for the May 2 primary/special election is Feb. 1.
Prior to being first elected, Chase, a Democrat, served as an acting judge for six years and practiced law in municipal courts for a dozen years.
“The next person to serve in this office should have significant and extensive experience in municipal courts,” Chase said. “I had a clear understanding of the job and its responsibilities before I took office.”
Chase, who is in his 60s, was re-elected four times, most recently in 2011 when he ran unopposed. His time on the bench will total 30 years when he steps down.
“I appreciate that voters gave me the opportunity to serve as judge,” he said. “Every day I get to work to make our communities a safer place and to have a positive impact on people’s lives.”
To date, Chase has resolved 489,825 cases. He expects that total to be over a half million by the time he is finished.
“This is a 24-7, 365-day a year job. I had officers at my house at 2 a.m. New Year’s morning to obtain a search warrant,” he said.
Of the nearly-500,000 cases he’s resolved, 21,103 of them have been OVI cases, something he has traditionally been tough on.
“I am proud to have maintained the policy that OVI cases are not reduced to lesser offenses,” Chase said. “I believe the voters have a right to expect that whoever is elected this year will maintain that policy because it makes our streets and highways safer and protects the families of the people who live, work and visit here.”
Medina Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal, traffic and civil cases, including personal injury, contract disputes, small claims and evictions; and acts in thousands of cases annually to enforce and collect civil judgements for individuals and businesses.
Its jurisdiction includes the cities of Brunswick and Medina, Spencer and Chippewa Lake villages and 11 townships – Liverpool, Brunswick Hills, Hinckley, Litchfield, York, Medina, Granger, Chatham, Lafayette and Montville.