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Fresno attorney eyes bench
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A fourth person has initiated the process to run for Tuolumne County Superior Court judge in the upcoming election. Alex Aretakis, a Fresno attorney, said on Wednesday that he has turned in his paperwork and paid his filing fee with the Tuolumne County Elections Office to run for judge. Incumbent judges Eleanor Provost and Donald Segerstrom, the former district attorney, have also initiated paperwork for the two seats up for election this year, as has Tuolumne County Counsel Gregory Oliver. Originally from Manteca, Aretakis, 45, lives in Fresno, where he has practiced primarily in the area of business litigation. He recently worked as a judge pro-tem in Fresno County. He said he is very familiar with Tuolumne County, has visited the area frequently over the years and likes the “tight community” and “family atmosphere.” Aretakis said he learned a possible seat on the bench is opening up in the county, and he said he met with a number of area residents to inquire about his prospects for running. “Everyone seemed to be very encouraging,” he said. In the coming months he said he will spend more time meeting people in the community to let them know who he is. While he said he has already received questions about running as an out-of-towner, Aretakis said he believes it will make him a strong candidate since he would take the position without any bias or conflict. “If you come in front of me with a case, I don’t know the parties. A judge is supposed to be a neutral arbiter,” he said. Aretakis is a registered Republican, though he pointed out judge elections are non-partisan. He described his political orientation as “conservative” and called himself a “constitutionalist.” Provost and Segerstrom currently hold the seats that will be up for election in June. Segerstrom, who was appointed recently by Gov. Jerry Brown to fill the position after former Judge Douglas Boyack retired last year, must run in the next election to maintain the seat. |
