Letters to the Editor

Salinas Californian, Oct 31, 2008

Choose Hood for county judge

I have practiced law in Monterey County for 25 years. This is the first time in 15 years that there is an open seat election for the Monterey County Superior Court. It presents a rare opportunity for the local legal community to have a voice in choosing the best candidate for judge. That community is solidly behind Mark Hood.
Seventy-eight percent of the attorneys who voted in a recent Monterey County Bar Association plebiscite voted in favor of Mark Hood for judge. Of the 15 judges who are making endorsements, 12 support Mark Hood, including Presiding Judge Russell Scott, Judge John Phillips (Ret.) and Nat A. Agliano (Ret.), Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeals.

Our local attorneys and judges are the people who best know our courts, our community's legal issues and the qualifications needed to be a judge in Monterey County. Mark Hood is the candidate with more experience, broader knowledge of the law and the judicial temperament we all look for in a judge. Please join me in voting for Mark Hood.

Paula Robinson
Monterey

Hood's experience makes him best choice for judge

Mark Hood, a longtime Monterey County resident, has the experience we need for a judge. He is the only candidate running with civil experience. This experience was evident in the debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Mark also has more depth of experience in the criminal arena, having handled thousands of cases from rape, homicide and embezzlement to crime by gang members. Special assignments in the career criminal and special operations units of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office (sexual assault and homicide) were awarded to Mark based on his reputation and success.

With almost 20 years as a prosecutor, in court almost every day, Mark knows how court systems work. He has received unprecedented support from local attorneys and judges who are endorsing, which to me is critical.

Given his experience and extraordinary support from the local legal community, Mark will bring a level of knowledge and experience to the Superior Court that cannot be equaled.

Athena Tracey
Carmel

Salinas Californian, Oct 18, 2008

Hood best qualified for bench

After spending more than 20 years as a Superior Court Judge in Monterey County, I feel that I have a strong insight into what's needed on our bench. That's why I strongly support Mark Hood - so strongly that I sought him out to offer my endorsement.

I am not alone in endorsing Mark Hood for judge. So far, 15 local judges have endorsed in this election, and 12 of them endorsed Mark. That's an extraordinary 80 percent.

Local attorneys seem to agree with the judges. Recently, the Monterey County Bar Association invited its members to vote for their choice of judge. Remarkably, 60 out of 77 voted for Mark.

There has been some talk in this election about the importance of a local connection. For me, the overwhelming support of local judges and attorneys is a very strong local connection indeed. These are the people who know our local courts best, and by a very wide margin they support Mark Hood.

The fact is, both candidates for judge are long-time local residents. I support the one I believe is best qualified. That is what will best serve our local community.

Mark has also been endorsed by the largest local law enforcement association, the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Mark is tough on violent crime, but equally tough in ensuring fairness. He has a deep knowledge of the law, and, importantly, has the temperament and demeanor befitting a judge. Please join me in supporting Mark Hood for judge.

Judge John Phillips (Ret)
Co-chairman, Mark Hood for Judge campaign

Salinas Californian, Oct 17, 2008

Mark Hood has his vote for judge

As a lifelong resident of Monterey County with three children, married to a Salinas schoolteacher, and a 20-year career in the agriculture industry, I know this community well. Trained in the law, and having been exposed to both good and bad performance in our court system, I take a special interest in the judicial race for the Superior Court.

I was introduced to Mark Hood last spring while working on another judicial campaign. Immediately, his knowledge, demeanor and trustworthiness impressed me. Due diligence confirmed my instincts. I found that his experience and reputation were unsurpassed and could benefit our community enormously. For these reasons, I started to support Mark Hood for judge.

Now knowing Mark well and being intimate with his campaign, I can attest to his fairness and integrity. Along with most judges, attorneys and community leaders I know, Mark Hood has my vote.

John A. Chobanian
Salinas

Mark Hood deserves your vote

With unmatched experience and a natural judicial temperament, Mark Hood has garnered the support of many in the legal community including the majority of Monterey County judges who have made endorsements. His knowledge and preparedness to handle all types of judicial assignments were evident at a debate between the two candidates.

In addition to his experience and intelligence, Mark is exactly the kind of person who should be a judge. As someone who has known Mark for years, I can attest to his integrity and judgment. By nature he is calm and fair, always listening before jumping to conclusions. Hard-working and passionate, he finds time to support community programs and is especially committed to Monterey County's youth. A longtime resident, Mark is a family man with deep ties to this area. He is the local talent we need.

Alexandra Eastman
Salinas

Monterey Herald, 10/09/2008

Hood is the best choice for Superior Court bench

With all the attention tuned in to the presidential debates, a local debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters for the Monterey County Superior Court went unnoticed. As we know from the presidential race, debates allow an opportunity to better understand each candidate's knowledge and view of the issues.

Of the two candidates, Mark Hood has more extensive experience. Better prepared for this debate, he demonstrated a stronger understanding of specific issues facing Monterey County. Mark Hood was able to address questions on the local environment and water right decisions that impact our lives daily. He described, with detail, county juvenile crime rates and the success of local programs like Rancho Cielo. His direct answers provided solid evidence of where he would focus and how hard he would work to this county's benefit. In addition, he presented a clear case as to how he would ensure a fair and balanced court.

We have also learned that Mark Hood has the overwhelming support of local judges and community leaders. We will be joining them in voting for Mark.

James and Carrie Ushiba
Monterey

Monterey Herald, 5/18/08

Hood well-qualified for judge

Normally, I do not place election signs in my yard (or write letters to the editor), but for Mark Hood, I have and I am asking my friends to do the same. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mark and his family for some time. Our lives have been deeply enriched by this relationship. Mark is about as close to my idea of the perfect citizen as I have seen. He cares about people, he is friendly, responsible, reasonable, hardworking, and he loves this community.

Choosing a judge is one of the most significant votes a citizen will cast. How are we to choose a candidate for this critical position? Simple—look for experience and integrity. Mark Hood's experience stands out from the other candidates. As the only candidate who has worked as both a criminal prosecutor (nearly two decades) and a civil attorney, he is perfectly prepared for the job. As for integrity, if I were in court, whether as juror, victim, plaintiff or defendant, Mark Hood is exactly the type of person I would want sitting on the bench.

Korby Paulsen
Pacific Grove

Hood will inspire trust

Judicial candidate Mark Hood at the Monterey County Bar Association/Women Lawyers Association judicial forum: "They want to see justice. They want to see the judge listening to both sides." He repeated this several times and spoke of making sure that all who enter the courtroom, whether witness, victim, juror or defendant, believe that a just result is achieved.

As an attorney, I occasionally find it difficult to explain a judge's ruling to a client. When a judge has clearly listened to each side's evidence and carefully considered the arguments, however, people respect the decision.

Please vote for a candidate who will inspire trust and carry on the best of the traditions of the Monterey County court system. I endorse Mark Hood for the Superior Court bench.

Cheri D. Love
Monterey

Mark Hood's ready to be a judge

Of the four candidates running for Superior Court judge, Mark Hood has the most potential to be immediately effective and, over time, improve our community. In Mark's 19 years of experience as a criminal prosecutor in Santa Clara following two years in civil practice, he has garnered an unqualified reputation for fairness and prudence.

At the recent gathering hosted by the Carmel Area Women's Democratic group, which I attended, Mark demonstrated how extensive and relevant his experience would be in our court where the majority of cases handled are criminal. Equally important is Mark's passion for balanced judicial decisions. Mark is focused on the need to reduce gang violence. He will deliver tough sentences to violent criminals. On the other hand, Mark has spent time in, and advocates for, drug treatment courts. His thorough understanding of the complexity of the issues will provide a balanced perspective in the court system. Mark Hood would be an outstanding judge.

Pat Lehman
Pebble Beach

Hood for Monterey County judge

Perhaps one of the most rewarding decisions my husband and I have ever made was to have children. Although our two little girls are only toddlers, they bring us more joy than we could ever have imagined.

We can't even begin to think of the pain and sorrow we would experience if anything ever happened to them. Our hearts go out to the many parents in this community - too many, in fact -who have had to deal with the loss of a child, particularly a senseless loss at the hands of gang violence.

As we look forward to raising our children on the Central Coast, we are concerned about protecting them from the violence creeping into our neighborhoods, and we will do everything in our power to stop it.

That's why we're voting for Mark Hood for judge. He is the only candidate who has served as a criminal prosecutor for 19 years, and he has extensive experience handling violent crimes, career criminals, and crimes committed by gang members. In addition, Mark is endorsed by the largest law enforcement organization in Monterey County, the Deputy Sheriff's Association.

If you care about the safety of our citizens and our children, please join us in voting for Mark Hood for judge.

Dawn and Todd Southard
Salinas

Hood good for Safe Haven, would be good for judge

I'm president of Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal rescue organization.

One of our board members, Mark Hood, is running for judge in Monterey County. Mark has been instrumental in the formation and success of Safe Haven, and thanks in large part to his dedication, Safe Haven is one of the most prominent rescue organizations in the South Bay area. As a director and officer, Mark has shown a high degree of integrity in conjunction with good management practices. He is not only an asset to our organization, he is a person of high values, sincerity and good character.

Mark Hood would be a tremendous asset to the judicial system in Monterey County.

Ginny Nichols
San Jose

Hood for judge

In the early weeks of the campaign for Superior Court judge, candidate Mark Hood raised eyebrows by stating that he believes in tough sentences for violent criminals and gang members. I was very glad to hear that. Mark has 19 years of experience in prosecuting the many types of crime, which alarm more and more of us in more and more neighborhoods. But he also favors programs to keep youth away from gangs and criminal activity. Balance and fairness characterize Mark.

He has a broad social perspective, which will serve him when deciding what kind of sentence is appropriate for the convicted criminal and healing for the community.

Mark's life experiences include being part of a large family and assisting those who needed support. He has other charitable and volunteer obligations. He knows first-hand how crime can jeopardize all the good works people do.

Silvio Skefich
Salinas

Hood has criminal, civil experience for judgeship

A recent letter writer was mistaken in claiming that Tom Wills is the only candidate for judge who has both criminal and civil legal experience. In fact Mark Hood has an unmatched 19-year record as a criminal prosecutor and has been a civil litigator at a leading San Francisco firm. While Wills is known primarily as a civil attorney, Hood has spent more of his time as a criminal prosecutor.

Given that the caseload in the Monterey County courts is about eight criminal cases for every one civil case, deep criminal prosecution experience like Mark's — along with his significant civil experience — will be of great value. In his remarkable career handling every kind of case, including some of the most serious ever to face the greater Bay Area, Mark Hood has earned the respect of judges, fellow prosecutors, defense attorneys and police officers, and the endorsement of the Monterey County Deputy Sheriffs Association. Mark Hood has our vote for judge June 3.

Kim Crozier
Carmel