Charleston attorney Lera VanMeter started campaigning hard last year, hoping she'd be the only person to run to replace retiring Kanawha County Family Judge Mark Snyder.
Her work paid off and she's running unopposed in the election to be decided May 10. All judicial elections in the state are now nonpartisan so they are decided during the primary.
"We came out early and strong, because that's the position I really wanted," the Mingo County native said.
VanMeter, 46, has focused mostly on family court cases during her 21 years as a lawyer, she said.
And for the past several years, a large portion of her caseload has been devoted to serving as a guardian ad litem and protecting children's rights.
"For me, it was the right time in my life to run for the open seat," she said. "I believe I can bring the experience and the knowhow to the bench in order to make a difference in the lives of, especially children, within the parameters of family court."
As judge, VanMeter wants to run an efficient courtroom. She plans to make fair rulings in a timely manner and allow everyone to have their day in court.
"I think it's very important to let people be heard," she said. "That's what people want."
VanMeter said she will have big shoes to fill in Snyder, who has served as family judge for about 16 years.
Also running unopposed for Kanawha family judge is R. Joseph Zak, who was appointed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in 2014 to serve the remaining term of retired judge Mike Kelly. Family Judge Kenneth Ballard is also running unopposed in Kanawha.
Judge Sharon Mullens is facing off against attorney Jim Douglas, while Judge Rob Montgomery, will try to keep Patrick Cottrell from becoming judge.
Kanawha magistrates running unopposed, include: Joseph Shelton, Tim Halloran, Pete Lopez, Jack Pauley, Joseph Shelton and Traci Strickland.
Kanawha has 10 magistrates. In contested races for the position are Marva Lee Crouch and Kathy Ferguson, who are running against incumbent Brent Hall; Cecilia "Cecil" Thomas and former Nitro mayor Rusty Casto are challenging longtime Magistrate Ward Harshbarger; Pam Nixon is running against incumbent Mike Sisson, and Melanie Rucker is running against Magistrate Julie Yeager. Four candidates have filed to run against Magistrate Tim Halloran: Margaret Chico-Eddy, Steve Harper, Paris Workman and Dianna Graves.
Reach Kate White at kate.white@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1723 or follow @KateLWhite on Twitter.