Judge Trapp Speaks to Washington County Dems
Treasurer, court candidate speak
Marietta Times
Apr 17, 2010
By Sam Shawver
Treasurer, court candidate speak
Campaigning while still in office can be difficult - especially when you're the state's top fiscal officer, but Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce says it's a little easier this year than it would have been in 2009.
"It's a daunting task; you're traveling and working 20 hours a day, seven days a week," he said. "But this year is nothing like last year - I wasn't campaigning then - and 2009 was one of the worst years since the Great Depression. But Ohio's treasury did not lose a single dime, and even gained in investments during that time."
Boyce, who is seeking re-election after serving out the unexpired term of former Treasurer Richard Cordray (himself running for re-election as attorney general) spoke to a packed house during the Washington County Democratic Party's annual spring dinner at American Legion Post 64 in Marietta Friday night.
Growing up in Columbus, Boyce described himself as a "textbook" at-risk youngster who was raised by a single mother and grandmother after his father was murdered when Boyce was just 7 years old.
"He was a Marine who served two tours in Vietnam, then came back to his hometown and was killed," Boyce said.
Although he was just a child at the time, Boyce said it was a defining moment.
"Even then, and more today, I wanted to make a difference and do something every day to try to improve myself and others," he said. "We all have many differences, but we have more similarities. And each of us has a stake in making tomorrow better than today."
Boyce earned track and academic scholarships to attend the University of Toledo, and after graduation worked with youth programming in Toledo. He also holds a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University.
He has served as executive director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and chief of staff for the House Democratic Caucus, and became a member of Columbus City Council in 2000.
Also speaking Friday was Mary Jane Trapp, candidate for justice of the Ohio Supreme Court.
"I live and work in the northern 'snow belt,' but in my family we call Washington County 'down home,'" she said, adding that her family's roots are here and she still has relatives in this area.
"And I was always taught 'to whom much is given, much is also required,'" Trapp said.
A lifelong Democrat and past president of the Ohio State Bar Association, she now serves as the designee of the Ohio Courts of Appeals Judges Association on the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure.
"As I have traveled the state, I'm told people have lost confidence in their state courts," Trapp said. "That's why our courts need to maintain a level playing field."
She said no Democrat currently sits on the Ohio Supreme Court, but noted that she was inspired to run for a post on the court by the late Republican Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
"He said a liberal Democrat needs to be on the court because the whole idea behind a multi-judge court is to have a diversity of backgrounds, experience and philosophy in making decisions that affect Ohioans," Trapp said.
"Judge Moyer said the people of Ohio believe there is no diversity on their Supreme Court," she said.
A graduate of Mount Holyoke College in 1978, Trapp received her law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1981. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1981 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in 1987.