The race for circuit court judge.

Spaniola, left; Sniegowski, right.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4,  voters in Mason and Lake counties will choose the next 51st Circuit Court judge, replacing Richard Cooper, who is retiring after 36 years on the bench. The candidates for judge are Paul Spaniola and Susan Sniegowski.

Spaniola is a resident of Mason County’s Pere Marquette Township while Sniegowski resides in the City of Ludington.

Spaniola is the current Mason County Prosecutor, an office he has held since 2009. In fact, he defeated Sniegowski for the seat, who served in the office for one four-year term.

Sniegowski, 46, was Mason County’s first female prosecutor and she is hoping to be the 51st Circuit’s first female judge. She grew up in Ludington and attended Ludington Area Schools through her junior year in high school. Her family then moved away and she graduated from Dow Midland High School in 1986. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University where she majored in journalism. She earned her law degree from University of Denver. She has practiced law since 1999 and owns a private practice in Ludington.

Spaniola, 55, earned his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and his law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law. He has worked in the prosecutor’s office since 2001. Prior to that he operated a private practice in Ludington specializing in criminal defense, family law, real estate, general civil practice, probate and estate planning, and personal injury.

See interviews with Spaniola and Sniegowski here:

Spaniola

Sniegowski