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ELECTION 2016 Challenger running for justice of the peace Incumbent Joe Charter has been serving since 2004 Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 29, 2016 at 3:44 PM Updated Apr 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 29, 2016 at 3:44 PM Updated Apr 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM » Social News A Gold Hill lawyer with a business background is running for Jackson County justice of the peace against an incumbent seeking his third six-year term. Melissa Williams is challenging Joe Charter, who as justice of the peace since 2004 has overseen jurisdiction of traffic tickets, landlord-tenant disputes and small-claims cases. “I think I’ll bring needed change through fresh ideas and needed policy changes,” Williams said. Williams said she'd like to see all drivers who take their traffic ticket to trial be allowed access to traffic school if rulings aren't in their favor. "It's a policy that's within the judge's realm," Williams said. Charter said some drivers are allowed to go to traffic school after taking a ticket to trial, but it's a case-by-case basis. “My policy is, once you are in a trial scenario there’s another party involved,” Charter said. “The officer has some say in whether traffic school is recommended.” Williams said she will approach the job efficiently because of her business expertise honed from owning a manufacturing company. She has since sold the Arizona company. "I know how to get the job done," Williams said. She says on her campaign website that she "is running for Justice of the Peace because the Justice Court is often the first experience most individuals have with the judicial system. Those individuals deserve to be guided through the process with thoughtfulness and respect." Charter had 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer before he was elected justice of the peace in 2004. "What experience gives you is familiarity with the many different kinds of cases," Charter said. Charter said he attends two judicial conferences a year, double the 12 hours of continuing education required. Charter has been president of the Oregon Justice of the Peace Association and the Jackson County Bar and a member of the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates. His leadership role helped preserve the court services in 2011 when legislative efforts put them in jeopardy because of budget shortfalls, Charter said. He worked with co-chairs of the state Ways and Means subcommittee to spell out the impacts. “Being in a leadership role means knowing what’s going on not just in Jackson County but also in the state,” Charter said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 29, 2016 at 3:44 PM Updated Apr 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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