Judge Williams is an outstanding judge for the people

I support Judge Wes Williams’ reelection bid. I have known Wes for more than 35 years, going back to the time when we were both teaching at Sandy High School. Wes was an extremely accomplished U.S. history teacher. He was also the mock trial and tennis coach.

On many occasions when I had a free period, I would drop in on Wes’ classes to observe and, in doing so, learn from a great teacher. He was Oregon’s mentor teacher of the year two years running. Wes was a master teacher in all respects, but most impressive to me was the respect he showed his students and how that respect was returned.

Wes left teaching in the early 1990s to become an attorney. He practiced law in La Grande for 22 years before becoming our local trial judge in 2019. The same traits that made Wes a great teacher made him an outstanding attorney and now judge. His hard work and preparation, his respectful treatment of all people, his fairness and thoughtfulness — these qualities make up the bedrock of Wes’ character and make him an outstanding judge for the people.

Please join me in reelecting Judge Williams.

Tim Troutman

Retired Elgin social studies teacher

La Grande

Vote for Wes Williams’ blue-collar work ethic

I support Wes Williams for judge in Union and Wallowa counties. I have known Wes for 15 years, and during that time period I’ve never taken away anything other than that he is a person with a blue-collar work ethic and a man with respect for others.

Wes studies his craft and continues to keep up with current legislation, changes in laws, and current state events. He is a true professional.

Wes and his wife are outdoor enthusiasts, so he knows the values of the people in Union and Wallowa counties. People who live where we do appreciate these types of values. I know Wes to listen to others and to be a great person of our community, in touch with the people in our part of the state.

Wes is often seen at local establishments and is not standoffish at all. He’s down-to-earth and approachable and never acts like he’s better than anyone else. In fact, he’ll go out of his way to say hello.

It is my great hope that we the people will reelect Wes Williams for Judge.

Bart Hofmann

Summerville

Williams: fairness, patience and respect

I’m voting to reelect Wes Williams judge in Union and Wallowa counties, and I hope you will too. Here’s why:

Some years ago, after the citizens of Union County chose me to be their district attorney, I charged a man with serious crime with complex facts; Wes Williams represented him in trial. Williams was better prepared than any other attorney I’d ever gone against. It was obvious that he’d worked hard with his client, with the witnesses, and with the police reports. But even more important, his demeanor in the courtroom was exceptional. He was respectful to every person: to the judge and court staff, to the witnesses who testified against his client, to the victim, and to me, the district attorney prosecuting the case. And he acted the same way in every case throughout my tenure as district attorney.

Those qualities have carried over to his performance as judge these last five years. He gets high marks for fairness and patience in every courtroom in which he serves.

We have a good thing in Judge Williams. Let’s reelect him.

Martin J. Birnbaum

Retired Union County District Attorney

La Grande

The Observer will run endorsement letters of no more than 350 words. We institute a deadline for letters to the editor so we can be fair with all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if necessary. We run local letters of endorsement on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit your endorsement letters to the editor by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 26. You can email them to news@lagrandeobserver.com or mail them to The Observer, Attn.: Andrew Cutler, 911 Jefferson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850. We will publish our last endorsement letters on Saturday, May 18. Any letters received after the April 26 deadline will not be published in print or online.