CAMPBELL — Two longtime rivals will square off again — this time for the Campbell Municipal Court judicial seat.

Running in the Nov. 7 election for the six-year term is Brian J. Macala, Campbell’s longtime city law director, and Mark J. Kolmacic, a former law director. Macala was first elected law director in 1995, losing in 2007 to Kolmacic, and then winning it back in 2011 and serving ever since.

This will be the sixth time the two have run for elected office against each other. Kolmacic also unsuccessfully challenged Macala for law director in 2015 and 2021.

They both lost the municipal court judge race in 2005 to Patrick P. Cunning, who can’t seek reelection this year because of the state’s age limit law for judges. Kolmacic also lost to Cunning in the 2017 election and unsuccessfully ran for the judgeship in 1999.

The court has jurisdiction over Campbell and Coitsville.

Kolmacic said if elected he would “run the court with honesty and integrity and to temper justice with compassion.”

Macala said he wants to “provide fair and impartial justice,” and during his 23 years as law director, which includes prosecuting cases in municipal court, he has learned “proper judicial temperament and decorum. Not every decision from the bench will be well-received.”

But, he said, “every party and attorney appearing in Campbell Municipal Court will know that my decisions will be the result of my neutral review of the facts and application of the appropriate law.”

Both want to expand the court’s community service program.

“With the pandemic, community service work was halted and has since only returned on a limited basis,” Macala said. “I will see to that program returning to its previous status and expansion of it to a full-time basis if warranted and possible.”

Kolmacic said: “Community service is underutilized in Campbell although it’s been available as a term of probation as far back as I can remember, especially for indigent offenders. The community service program needs to be revamped.”

Kolmacic said he has “been critical of the court’s lack of security” and he would apply for grants from the Ohio Supreme Court to improve it.

“Security in the Campbell Municipal Court is still lacking and needs to be addressed,” he said.

Macala said security is an issue for the municipal court and while some steps have been taken to improve it, more is needed.

One of the major issues in this race is Macala’s case in front of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct, scheduled for an Oct. 30 hearing, after he admitted to forging clients’ signatures on probate court documents.

Macala said: “It doesn’t reflect well on me. It’s something I should not have done. I regret, and I wish I had not done it. I did something very incorrect. Attorney Kolmacic is making very much out of this and (saying) it shows my lack of integrity. I don’t agree.”

Kolmacic said if Macala wins “it would be an embarrassment to the city to elect a judge that couldn’t sit.”

The board makes recommendations on possible sanctions with the final decision up to the Supreme Court.

Kolmacic said: “Brian is qualified. I am qualified. If given equal qualification, I think one critical factor is he’s been accused of being dishonest in his private practice.”

But Macala said he is much more qualified for the job than Kolmacic.

The complaint filed by the Mahoning County Bar Association against Macala states on May 17, 2022, he signed the names of five people on probate filings regarding the estates of two people to get a time extension.

Macala said he needed more time for the case and regrets forging the signatures.

Macala was fired by the executor of the two estates after the forgeries were discovered.

Meet the candidates

Brian J. Macala

Age: 56

Priorities: Continued operation of court in a fiscally responsible manner, expand community service program and provide fair and impartial justice.

Previous elected office: Campbell city law director from 1996 to 2007 and 2012 to present

Mark J. Kolmacic

Age: 66

Priorities: Secure additional technology grants, advocate for a strong probation department and increase community service program.

Previous elected office: Campbell city law director from 2008 to 2011