Mark Herman

Age: 59

Residence: Howard Township

Education: 

• Lake Michigan College, associate’s degree, 1977

• Western Michigan University, bachelor’s degree, 1978

• Detroit College of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1982

Professional background: 

• Member of the Michigan Bar Association since 1982.

• Member of the Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan, since 1984.

• Member of the Debtors Bar Association-U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan, since 2004

• Member and past president of the Cass County Bar Association, since 1982.

• Licensed member of the Pokagon Tribal Court, since 2005.

• Private practicing attorney with Magyar Law Office, with areas of practice including criminal defense, domestic relations (divorce, custody, support and visitation issues), real estate, decedent’s estates, business organizations, personal injury, adoptions, guardianships/conservatorships (elders and minors), civil litigation, contract law, bankruptcy, wills and trusts, municipal law, social security law, juvenile and abuse-neglect, and driver’s license restoration.

• Probate court administrator and attorney referee under two judges, Herbert E. Phillipson and Susan L. Dobrich, with duties including preparation and monitoring court budgets, supervising personnel, conducting court hearings (more than 10,000 court hearings in my tenure), negotiating budgets with the Cass County Board of Commissioners, representing court in the community, 1990 to 2004.

• Practicing attorney with Paine Webber, series seven and series 63 licensed, 1987 to 1990

• Cass County Prosecutors Office, 1983 to 1987

• Judicial Law Clerk under Michael E. Dodge, 1982 to 1983

• Prosecutor for the Village of Cassopolis since 2005

• First prosecutor of the Pokagon Tribal Court from 2005 to 2012.

Civic Involvement:

• Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, vice president

• Dogwood Fine Arts Festival, vice president

• Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare, board member

• Dowagiac Rotary Club member for 23 years (past president and past assistant district governor)

• Dowagiac Rotary Charitable Foundation, board member

• Dowagiac Rotary Villa, secretary of the board

• Family Center, board member

• Former board member of the Cass County Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• Concealed weapons instructor

• Cass County Youth Council, chair for 14 years (1990 to 2004), rasing hundreds of thousands of dollars for distribution in the community, including for Cass County schools, Lewis Cass ISD, Community Mental Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Family/Juvenile Court, SMC, County Parks, YMCA, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Cass County Fair, Cass County Council on Aging, Dowagiac Fine Arts Festival, MSU Extension, Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, local little league and soccer league scholarships, CASA, and many other organizations that requested partnership funding for matching grants..

• Michigan Children’s Trust Fund State Volunteer of Year award in 2003, for work in raising money and aiding organizations in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?  I believe I am the best candidate for circuit court Judge because I have a vast, all-around knowledge of the areas of the law that a circuit court handles. It is important to have extensive experience in criminal prosecutions as well as civil litigation. My extensive volunteer work through the last 30 plus years gives me a better understanding of the needs of the community.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? I am most proud of my Michigan State Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003. I believe it is important to give back to one’s community and make it a better place for those who live here. The sign of a good society is helping those who are less fortunate to succeed, and I have tried to live my life in this way.

What is the biggest challenge our local justice system faces? How would you address it? I believe the biggest problem facing the justice system is drug abuse coupled with mental health issues. It is important that the justice system address these issues through the expansion of drug and mental health treatment programs, as the jails and prisons are becoming overcrowded. Rehabilitation is necessary to prevent recidivism.

 

Scott L. Teter

Age: 54

Residence: Cassopolis

Education: 

• Edwardsburg High School

• Kalamazoo College, bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration in American studies

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Juris Doctorate

Professional background: 

• Co-founder of Teter Realty in Edwardsburg, 1982

• Co-founder of Teter Machine Products Inc. in Edwardsburg, 1985

• French & Lawrence, associate attorney, 1991

• French, Lawrence & Teter, partner, 1992

• Cass County Prosecutor’s Office, assistant prosecuting attorney. November 1992

• Appointed by Judge Dodge as Cass County Prosecutor, December 1995

• Elected Cass County Prosecuting Attorney, January 1996

• Assistant Attorney General, State of Michigan, March 2003 to present.

Political experience: 

• Prosecuting Attorney Cass County, 1996

• Re-elected unopposed as Prosecuting Attorney, 2000

• Ran for Cass County District Court Judge, 2008

Civic involvement: 

• Member of 30 years of Community Baptist Church in Edwardsburg, serving as chairman of the deacon board/worship leader, Sunday school teacher, youth leader and softball coach

• Coached Edwardsburg little league

• Coached Edwardsburg youth soccer

• Assistant coach, Edwardsburg High School wrestling

• Taught Junior Achievement

• Founding member and first president of the Edwardsburg Optimist Club

• Forty years in Cass County 4-H program

• More than 25 years in Forgotten Man Ministries Program

• Co-founder of Cass County Family Violence task force

• Co-founder of the Cass County Child Abuse task force

• Co-founder of the Cass County Elder Abuse task force

• Financial supporter of the Domestic and Sexual Assault Services shelter

What will be your top priority if elected? As every responsible adult knows, one of life’s greatest challenges is to live a life consistent your values and principles. Judge Dodge set the highest standard for public service, integrity and legal wisdom. My number one priority would be to live, work and lead in a manner that preserves this legacy.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?  For 19 consecutive years, I have been actively engaged in legal evaluation, preparation and prosecuting significant and serious major cases, exactly the kind of cases that are heard in circuit court. I have worked to protect our elders, farmers, children and families, and victims of crime.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life? In his 34-year career, Judge Dodge only had four opportunities to review the available field and name an appointment. I was proud to be one of those choices. I’m also proud of my track record of fighting for people who’ve been seriously abused, scammed and hurt by violent acts.

What is the biggest challenge our local justice system faces? How would you address it? It is worth repeating: Judge Dodge ran one of the most respected circuit courts in our state. What he built will not automatically carry forward. I will preserve the court’s legacy of fairness and compassion while seeking ways to implement up-to-date operational efficiencies. Cass County taxpayers deserve consideration, too.

Other comments: What makes Cass County so special? It’s all of us! We care about family, character, hard work, helping each other and investing in our young people. I have lived here for 40 years (graduated from Edwardsburg High School). My wife Susan and I have been married 29 years. We raised our three children here. It would be an honor to serve you.