Re-elect Anderson, Savre and Conkel

Often overlooked in the state general elections are the Minnesota judicial races, mainly because most Minnesotans know so little about the candidates — incumbents or challengers.
But there are three local judges on this year’s ballot who deserve another term on the bench.
They include Associate Minnesota Supreme Court Justice G. Barry Anderson, a former Hutchinson city attorney, and two McLeod County District Court judges, Michael Savre and Terrence Conkel, both of Glencoe. Both Savre and Conkel are running unopposed.
Anderson is being challenged by former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley, who was appointed to fill the term of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash 10 years ago. Barkley filled the Senate term and also ran for other offices on the Independence Party ticket.
Anderson, meanwhile, has 14 years experience on the Minnesota Supreme Court, second only to Associate Justice Alan Page in seniority.
While all systems have flaws, we have written in the past that the appointment system of judges that currently occurs is a good process. Anderson was appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Anderson was an active Republican on the county and state levels, but he indicated in a recent interview with The Chronicle, political parties should not endorse judicial candidates. We agree.
We like Justice Anderson’s demeanor and feel supporting him for re-election is appropriate. While Barkley has more name recognition statewide, Anderson has more experience on the Supreme Court. That counts for a lot.
So when you go to the polls Nov. 6, be sure to turn over the ballot to the judicial races. They are important. Re-elect our local judges.
— R.G.