Dixon, 54, is a partner in the Olympia firm of Ditlevson Rodgers Dixon. He grew up in Ephrata in Central Washington and has worked in Olympia for 21 years. He was named the Thurston County Bar Association’s lawyer of the year for 2011.
In an interview Friday, Dixon promised to be open and accessible if elected. Although the formal filing date for candidates is not until May 14, Dixon said he wanted to get a head start to make himself available for public forums, or to meet with anyone who has questions about his candidacy.
“I’ve wanted to do it for the past four or five years,” Dixon said. “I feel like I have a professional and personal obligation to serve the community. I believe I am ready and more than qualified to step into the role of judge and return something back to the community that’s served me well for 21 years.”
“I do plan on starting my campaign immediately,” he added.
There will be elections for three vacancies on the Superior Court’s bench in 2012. Last week, three of the county’s eight Superior Court judges announced they will leave the bench.
Judge Christine Pomeroy is retiring as of March 1, and Presiding Judge Paula Casey and Judge Thomas McPhee won’t seek re-election when their terms end Dec. 31. Pomeroy’s retirement before the end of her term sets the stage for an appointment by Gov. Chris Gregoire for the remainder of the term. The appointee then would run for election if he or she chose to do so.
Another possible candidate for one of the three vacant judgeships is Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christy Peters, who also serves at the administration chief of the Prosecutor’s Office. In an interview Friday, Peters said she is considering running but hasn’t made a decision.
In Dixon’s news release announcing his intent to run, Dixon stated he will “work hard to increase accountability in our law and justice system, close the gap between the community and judiciary, and bring honor and integrity to the courtroom.”
Dixon, a former FBI agent, has bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and urban affairs from the University of Puget Sound. He received a Master of Public Administration degree from Rice University in 1983 and his law degree from UPS in 1990.
Superior Court judges in Washington earn $148,832 a year.
The 2012 primary is Aug. 7, and the general election is Nov. 6. If a candidate for a Superior Court judgeship wins more than 50 percent of the vote at the primary, he or she is automatically the winner of the race, and there is no general election, according to officials in the elections division of the Secretary of State’s Office.
Elections for Superior Court judgeships are nonpartisan.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
