Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As Election Day draws nearer, one race that doesn't always get a lot of attention is judgeship races. This year, Erie County will elect two new judges to Family Court.
The Republican candidate, Peter Vasilion, has been practicing family law for 23 years.
"The bulk of that is appearing almost every day in family court, handling for the most part, cases involving defendants or respondents, shall we say, excuse me, and also representing children, I think I've got the most experience continuously in family court," said Vasilion, who has also been Clarence Town Prosecutor for the last 13 years.
Vasilion says there are some 3,000 cases given to family court judges.
"Nice thing about family court is that we are a court that is solution oriented. We're trying to help families. We're trying to help children, especially keep them safe, and we're trying to we're trying to resolve these cases through mediation. A lot of the times, we're trying to do it in expeditious fashion, so that children are not subject to protracted litigation and by their parents being in family court," Vasilion said with WBEN.
He says his goal is to give every litigant the time and attention to have his story told.
Amherst Town Judge Kara Buscaglia says she's proud of the work she's done over the last 11 years.
"Creating the first ever opioid court in the town court. I run all our treatment courts, drug court, DWI court, veterans court, I just think that brings a unique experience to the bench," said Buscaglia in an interview with WBEN.
She has also been practicing in family court for 19 years, handling every type of case that comes through the door, as well as representing every type of litigant that appears in family court.
Buscaglia says Amherst is the busiest town court outside of New York City in New York State.
"My caseload in Amherst is very heavy. I'm on the bench three days a week. I'm on call two weeks out of the month, so I'm there quite often. And that that case load is large. Family courts is even larger," Buscaglia explained.
Buscaglia is running against fellow Democrat Jeff Harrington, West Seneca Town Justice, however, she's not concerned party lines will divide the votes.
"It's pick two. So I don't think that really will affect the race," said Buscaglia, who has received endorsements from other parties.
Vasilion says he has support from many Democrats who reached out to him and indicate their voting for him.
"I've gone to many organizations that would not traditionally be seen as Republican friendly, and we've had a great response. So I think that at the end of the day, we will have, we will come in first or second place," he said.
A call to Harrington was not returned.
