Kovack files for re-election to domestic relations bench

Staff Writer

MEDINA — Domestic Rela-tions Judge Mary Kovack filed petitions Monday to seek re-election to her seat on the Democratic ticket in the May primary.

Kovack, 42, of Medina, was elected to the position in 2000 after promising to "put families first," a vow she said she has kept.

During her time in office, Kovack started various programs designed to create inexpensive ways for families to settle differences and provide for children, she said. These include a free mediation program, a flexible process to enforce child support, a legal resource center, supervised parenting time and exchange center, and a case services assessment process that allows families to directly communicate with the court.

"The court is paid for by tax dollars and the taxpayers deserve to have programs to help them," Kovack said.

She said her experience comes not only from presiding over more than 15,000 domestic relations cases during her term, but also from being a mother who went through the domestic relations process.

Kovack is a member of the Supreme Court Task Force for Pro Se and Indigent Litigants, the Ohio Association of Do-mestic Relations Judges and the Ohio Judicial Con-ference. She also is in-volved in Project: LEARN and Leadership Medina County.

Kovack, a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, is active in Boy Scouts of America with her son.

"I seek re-election so I can continue to create new and inexpensive ways to ensure children can safely enjoy the love and support of their parents and families," Kovack said.

Sullivan may be reached at dsullivan@ohio.net or 330-721-4064.