Chris Epley cruised to victory in a battle for one of the five seats on the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals, says data from the Ohio Secretary of State.
“I am looking forward to working collegially with the four judges currently on the bench,” Epley said. “I have enjoyed meeting people over the past 15 months ― it has been a fantastic experience and I am eager to serve our communities.”
Also, Republican incumbent Greene County Probate Judge Thomas easily fended off a challenge from independent candidate Mark Babb.
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
Solle, 51, a Democrat, defeated Republican opponent K. George Kordalis for a seat on the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, according to unofficial Montgomery County Board of Election results with all precincts reporting.
She led with 52.19% of the vote, compared to Kordalis' 47.81%. Judicial races officially are nonpartisan.
Solle, who unsuccessfully ran for a judgeship with the court in 2014, will replace Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Barbara Gorman.
Solle is an attorney with 21 years of experience who specializes in business, employment and insurance litigation. Kordalis has been an attorney for about eight years.
Montgomery County Probate Court
In the race for a Montgomery County probate court judge seat, Brannon won about 60.47% of the vote over probate court magistrate Arvin Miller (39.53%).
Brannon, 40, a local attorney and a Republican, will fill the seat being vacated by Judge Alice O. McCollum.
Brannon previously said he has worked hundreds of probate cases as an attorney.
He also proposed creating a law clinic for needy families and “modernizing” the probate process to try to improve its speed and transparency.
Second District Court of Appeals
Epley garnered about 54.43% of the vote for a seat on the district court of appeals covering Montgomery, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene and Miami counties, according to unofficial Secretary of State results.
Epley won each of the counties in question. Lachman overall gained about 46.54% of the vote.
Epley, a Republican, fills a seat on the bench belonging to Judge Jeffrey E. Froelich.
Epley is a member of the Oakwood City Council and a former Oakwood school board member.
He also served as a magistrate for the Dayton Municipal Court and has taught appellate practice and procedure at the UD School of Law.
Greene County Probate Court
Greene County voters decided to reelect Judge O’Diam to another six-year term on the probate court.
O’Diam won a lopsided victory over Babb, gaining 61.14% of the vote, according to unofficial Greene County Board of Elections results.
Babb earned 38.86% of the vote.
O’Diam, 61, has been the Greene County probate judge since 2013. He was appointed in August of that year by Gov. John Kasich to replace retiring Judge Robert Hagler.
O’Diam, who ran unopposed in 2014, said he has 35 years of experience, including 28 years where he focused almost exclusively on estate planning, trust and probate law.
These results could to change as more ballots are counted in Ohio, potentially through Nov. 18. We will continue to update these results as more ballots are counted.
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