To the community,

It is with the greatest regret that I must inform the public what the current contested judicial election between Judge Nelson Brooks and Roland Tiemann is really all about. Obviously, there are two people who desire to be judge and the voters must choose. But behind all that is a power struggle for control of the administration of the court.

Judge Steve Bailey desires to be presiding judge of the court. That requires a positive vote by a majority of the current judges. He cannot achieve that now because a majority of the judges, including Judge Brooks, do not support him. So he is willing to challenge a respected colleague in order to achieve his objective. If Tiemann wins, Bailey will have one more vote for presiding judge.

This is a sorry state of affairs. It has created a serious, negative rift at the court. Do we want our judges to thus engage their ego pursuits and subject the public to the expense and ordeal of a contested election? Is this the kind of conduct we expect of our judges?

I hope not.

Please reject this challenge as the shabby and inappropriate behavior that it is. Stop the power grab. Vote for Judge Brooks.

Judge Eddie T. Keller (Ret.), Shingle Springs