Name: Joyce Perszyk. I am the daughter of Cliff and Norma Gillies and I have been married to Joseph Perszyk for over 26 years.
Occupation: I am currently the Havre City Court judge, seeking re-election to that position.
Educational background: Three-plus years of college at Montana State University-Northern. I have additional college credits from the University of Montana. I have an associate of science degree in business administration, with departmental distinction. My GPA is 3.51.
Favorite TV show: I have three favorites: "Law and Order," a courtroom drama show; "Judging Amy," because I am a fan of the actress, Tyne Daly; and the home and garden show, "Designing for the Sexes," because my husband and I see ourselves in similar situations as we continue to remodel our old home.
Favorite book: The trilogy of books by author Dave Pelzer: "A Child Called It'"; "The Lost Boy"; and "A Man Named Dave." The series deals with the issue of child abuse and one child's courage to survive, to go on to search for the love of a family, and his triumph and forgiveness. Unforgettable to say the least!
What makes you more qualified than your opponent?
I believe my work ethic, my 30-plus years of work experience (working in private business and over 20 years in public service), and my experience as the current city judge, working in a court of limited jurisdiction, makes me the best choice for Havre city judge.
Montana law does not require the judges in courts of limited jurisdiction, like City Court and Justice Court, to be attorneys. Of the 110 Montana judges in this category, 91 are non-attorney judges. Cases are often tried in courts by "lay" judges and with juries made up of "peers." I have the qualifications and experience to continue serving as your city judge and I have a solid background of work experience. I work hard to keep abreast of the legal issues that come before the court by attending workshops and classes on the issues, such as domestic violence.
The Havre City Court deals with misdemeanors, not felonies like the District Court does. It is called the "people's court" and has limited jurisdiction. Civil cases can be heard in City Court but are limited in subject matter and the amount of awards that can be made. City Court also has jurisdiction over city codes, like animal violations. A judge in City Court spends most of their time conducting arraignments, preliminary hearings and trying misdemeanor offense cases. Punishment is limited to fines in most cases of up to $500 (a few go up to $1,000) and jail time of up to six months (a few go up to one year). Civil case awards are limited to $7,000. Again, the Havre City Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. The procedures and operation of a court of limited jurisdiction can differ from the courts of general jurisdiction, such as the District Court.
I served as a substitute judge for three years prior to taking over the last part of Judge Zorn's term, and have served as the Havre City Court judge these past four years. I have the necessary court background to serve as your judge. I hold Montana Supreme Court certification to be a limited jurisdictional court judge. I am a graduate of the Montana Justice Institute from the University of Montana. The city has already invested money to train me in court operation and procedures; in criminal history disposition processing; in court accounting; in Havre's criminal history retention procedures. There would not be any court down time if I am re-elected as city judge. I do not have outside employment that may cause a conflict of interest problem with the court.
In the next few years, the Havre City Court needs to improve its procedures in dealing with the heavy case load it handles. I believe I can streamline the operation and get the City Court to serve the public more efficiently. My background as your current judge and previous city court clerk will serve as a basis for achieving this goal. Another goal I have for the court is to inform the public by developing an Internet site to help educate the public in the types of services the court does offer. As your city judge, I will continue to not only work with the City Council and the county commissioners, but with all the other agencies involved in working with offenders.
Crime is a community concern, and we all need to work together to make Havre a safe place to live. I will hold offenders responsible for their actions. Please vote for the "best" choice, vote Joyce Perszyk on Nov. 6.
Name: Carl S. White
Occupation: Attorney
Educational background: Graduated Fort Benton High School 1980; Bachelor of Science in Business from UM 1989; Juris Doctor from UM 1993.
Favorite TV show: "Frontline."
Favorite book(s): "The Big Sky" by A.B. Guthrie & "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain
What makes you more qualified than your opponent?
My education, my former district court judicial experience, and my bachlelor's degree in business computing, all qualify me to run an efficient court. For eight years, I have handled my clients' and other people's money and my books balance to the penny every month I've never lost a dime of someone else's money. I have 15 years' experience researching and applying the law, and a judge's primary job is to know and apply the law.
