Candidate Q&A: Jeffrey Marks, Ross County Common Pleas Judge, Probate and Juvenile Division

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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio: Jeffrey Marks is running unopposed for Ross County Common Pleas Judge of the Probate and Juvenile Division, so in our candidate question project, his answers run on their own.

Heritage Headlines is sending the same six questions to every candidate for local office in Ross, Pickaway, Pike, Scioto, Gallia, Vinton and Highland counties ahead of the November 3 election. Marks, a Republican, is the current Ross County Prosecuting Attorney and has served in that office for more than twenty years. His answers run below as he sent them.

One note on the fifth question: it was written for judges generally, and Marks answers it by pointing out that adult felony drug cases are heard in the Common Pleas General Division, which is separate from the Probate and Juvenile Division he is running for. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and early voting is already underway.

1. Who are you, and where are you from?

I am Jeffrey Marks, the current Ross County Prosecuting Attorney. I am married to Kristin Marks, my wife of over fifteen (15) years, and we have two daughters who are in high school and middle school. I was raised in northeast Ohio, but I have called Ross County home for more than twenty (20) years.

2. Why are you running for this office?

I have been fortunate to be able to serve the citizens of Ross County for over twenty (20) years as a member of the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office. This new opportunity to serve as Common Pleas Judge of the Juvenile & Probate Division will allow me to continue this service to our community not only in a new manner with new responsibilities, but in a way which extends to new areas and populations in our county as well.

3. A lot of people here say they feel more unheard than ever. Forgotten, or even betrayed, by the people in office. So forget plans for a second: what have you actually DONE, in your work and in this community, that shows what you would do in this office? Not promises. Accomplishments, the here and today.

I have dedicated my professional life to seeking justice for victims of criminal offenses, to holding criminals accountable for their conduct, and providing legal counsel for all of Ross County’s sixteen (16) townships and numerous county agencies. I have personally prosecuted over one hundred twenty-five (125) felony jury trials. In the community, I am one of the founding members of the Cigar Band, a local philanthropic group that has provided fundraising support for numerous charitable organizations throughout Ross County for over fifteen (15) years. Whether in the courtroom, or in the community, I have remained committed to helping others.

4. Honest question: when would you NOT complete a task or goal you promised? Under what circumstances would you let something you committed to go unfinished, and what would your reaction be when it happened?

The only promises that I would make would be to show up every day to diligently perform the duties of Common Pleas Judge of the Juvenile & Probate Division, and to base my decisions in that position on the facts presented and the appropriate law for each case or matter. With those promises in mind, I do not believe that circumstances would arise that would not allow me to fulfill them.

5. Your courtroom is where the drug problem lands. Voters see the same names arrested again and again, and cases that drag on a year or more. What would you do differently in how your court handles drug cases and repeat offenders, and how fast should a case move?

I am the candidate for Ross County Common Pleas Judge of the Juvenile & Probate Division. The prosecution of adult felony drug offenses in Ross County takes place in the General Division of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas, which is separate from the Juvenile & Probate Division.

6. In two sentences: why should our readers vote for you?

The citizens of Ross County deserve elected officials who are committed to fulfilling the duties of their respective offices with impartiality, honesty, and dedication. As the candidate for Ross County Common Pleas Judge of the Juvenile & Probate Division, I believe I have the skills and experience necessary to make sure our citizens get what they deserve.

Photo: Ross County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Marks gave Heritage Headlines permission to use his photo and told us to pull the one from his office’s webpage.

Send a tip or correction to info@heritageheadlines.com.

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