ALPENA — The Alpena County Probate Court judge race in the Nov. 6 election features a pair of familiar faces in the local judiciary system and voters must decide if they are pleased with the current direction of the probate and district court, or if a fresh start and new judge is warranted.

Current Judge Thomas LaCross and challenger Denise Burke both advanced though the August primary. Judgeships are nonpartisan, but a primary election helps narrow the field of candidates to two.

LaCross has been judge for 12 years, while Burke has been an attorney for 26 years, 23 of those years in Alpena. She has litigated many probate cases.

Probate Court oversees family matters, including estate issues, juvenile criminal cases, and cases stemming from Children’s Protective Services cases. In Alpena County, the probate court also acts as the district court, where all other criminal cases begin and some civil matters are handled.

Both LaCross and Burke said they have a passion for people, particularly children, and the community as a whole.

LaCross said that, during his time as judge, he has learned many things about Alpena and he’s taken action from the bench to address issues threatening the safety or livelihood of residents.

“You learn a lot in the courtroom and you learn to recognize trends and respond to them,” he said. “You learn what type of drugs are becoming a problem or if there is an increase of a certain type of crime. And you address them by setting up programs or working with others to find solutions. I try not to just punish a problem, but I try to solve the problem, too.”

Burke said her experience will help families who often face struggles and she wants to prevent them from being ripped apart. She said there are programs and counseling that can help any member of a family and all options should be exhausted before breaking up children and parents.

“For 23 years here, I’ve listened to the people, seen the issues they have, and know what people want,” Burke said. “The judges and the courts serve the people and we need to give them what they want.”

Burke said the primary reason she decided to run was because she questioned some of LaCross’ behavior and comments in the courtroom. She said a judge needs to show as much respect to the person before him or her as the person does for the judge, and there have been times there have been “outbursts,” she said, that were uncalled for.

“I was listening to several cases while in court on Feb. 15 and I saw some disturbing things happening that I feel were violations and personal biases being used,” Burke said. “He was yelling and screaming at people, lecturing people, and I was taken aback. I was very upset and the more I talked to people, I learned there were many who had similar circumstances. That’s when people encouraged me to run and, instead of being a person who complains and doesn’t do anything, I decided to run.”

LaCross said he has a strong passion for the court and people and at times it shows. He said sometimes a judge needs to raise his voice or hammer home a point to a defendant to make sure the message and seriousness of the situation hits home and they don’t reoffend.

“I think some people may bristle a little bit because I am so involved in every aspect of the court,” LaCross said. “I can see some defense attorneys taking it personal if I have to get tough with their client. They shouldn’t. We’re all officers of the court. Sometimes you have to be stern to get people on the straight and narrow again.”

Burke said that, if elected, she will work hard to make sure litigation moves more swiftly in the court and will work with the court’s partners to help fight mental health, which she said most people who appear before the court system suffer from in one form or another. She said there will be times she may need to sentence people to jail, but there will also be times when she will work hard to help people overcome the issues they have that lead to their poor behavior.

LaCross pointed to programs and initiatives he has helped create, such as Adult Drug Court and the Youth Academy, and the impact those programs have had on people, as one reason he should be reelected. He said he also played a role in creating a Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome video that educates people on why and how babies are born addicted to drugs and what impact that will have on the child’s life and health. He said the video is geared toward young women and is now being used all over the world as a teaching tool.

“The (Michigan) Department of Health and Human services, the Exchange Club, and the court were all instrumental in making the video and now that video has been used around the country and now it is being shown in Japan,” LaCross said. “We don’t know exactly how many mothers and babies it helped, but I suspect it was a lot.”

Both Burke and LaCross said making sure children have safe and functioning homes is a top priority and he will work hard find foster children permanent homes.

“There are a lot of great people who help, whether it’s other family members or friends of the family, but we need to have more and do better,” she said.

LaCross said one of his favorite days of the year is when Probate Court hosts its annual Adoption Day. He said there is no greater feeling than knowing you helped a child find new parents, a home, and, often, new siblings.

“It’s always the goal is to find them forever homes,” he said. “That’s what it is all about.”

The Burke file

∫ NAME: Denise Burke

∫ AGE: 55

∫ LIVES IN: Alpena Township

∫ OCCUPATION: Attorney

∫ EDUCATION: Michigan State University College of Law, studied public administration at the University of Michigan

∫ COMMUNITY

ACTIVITIES: None

∫ FAMILY: Single, three grown children

The LaCross file

∫ NAME: Thomas LaCross

∫ AGE: 60

∫ LIVES IN: Alpena Township

∫ ELECTED EXPERIENCE: 12 years, Alpena County probate judge

∫ OCCUPATION: Alpena County probate judge

∫ EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, Madonna University; jurisdoctorate, Wayne State University Law School

∫ COMMUNITY

ACTIVITIES: Boys and Girls Club, All Saints Catholic Church

∫ FAMILY: Married, three grown children, nine grandchildren