Candidate Details
- Residence
Ravenna - Email
judgekpoland@gmail.com - Website
http:// www.judgekevinpoland.com - Social Media
Facebook - Age
60 - Occupation
Judge - Education
BBA Kent State University 1983, JD University of Akron 1986 - Work Experience
Portage County Assistant Prosecutor '86-87, Private Practice '86-2010, Municipal Court Judge 1/1/2010 to present - Family
Married to Sheila (Miley) for 33 years, 3 children: Ryan 30, Meredith 27 and Andrew 23 - Affiliations
Ohio State Bar Assoc., Portage County Bar Assoc., Former member Ravenna JayCees, Boys and Girls Club Board, Portage Foundation, Salvation Army, Immaculate Conception Church-Ravenna, Trustee Portage/Geauga Juvenile Detention Center 2000-2009 - Bar Association Ratings
Judge Kevin Poland Highly Recommended Portage County Bar Association 2021
Question 1
List your judicial experience (courts and years)
Portage County Municipal Court since January 1, 2010. I am the Presiding Judge of the STAR Certified Mental Health Specialized Docket. I have handled over 165,000 cases since 2010. I have helped secure over 1 million dollars in outside grants, including a $500,000 grant to start the RISE Drug Court which was just certified as a specialized docket by the Supreme Court last month. In addition, the STAR Court just received over $70,000 in grant funding from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. We completed the new Kent Municipal Court House under budget and at no cost to the Portage County General Fund. We have created a Special Projects Fund to improve the efficiency of the Court while reducing the cost to the taxpayer. I have earned a reputation for being fair and impartial and deciding cases based upon the law and the facts of the case without regard to personalities or politics.
Question 2
What non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a judge?
I was an Assistant Prosecutor for over a year trying cases to both the bench and juries including felony cases. I had a private law practice for over twenty-three years located in Ravenna where I represented clients in both civil and criminal cases. I served as an Acting Judge for many years prior to my current role. I also served as Counsel for the Portage County Bar Association's Certified Grievance Committee prosecuting attorneys who violated the Code of Professional Conduct. I served on Ravenna City Council from 1987-2006 with the last twelve of those years as City Council President. I was Mayor of Ravenna from 2006 to 2009. I am the only candidate who has been a prosecutor, defense attorney, acting judge and Judge.
Question 3
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
I am running because I love my position as Judge. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Portage County and I want to continue making a difference. I have proven experience, dedication to our Court and have been a lifetime leader in my community. I received a Highly Recommended rating from the Portage County Bar Association Judicial Rating Committee and have a reputation for being fair and impartial and following the law.