To the Editor:

I am an attorney at law, recently retired after 32 years of practice. I've known Ogdensburg City Court Judge candidate Ramona Breen since before she was admitted to the practice of law.

For 30 of my 32 years I dedicated my practice to the representation of children in Family Court proceedings. Mona was always there. Like the criminal defense attorneys who are paid the measly fee of $75/ an hour, (your car mechanics and plumbers earn more per hour), attorneys for children are the hardest working, poorest paid and least well appreciated attorneys around.

Mona stuck with it. No financial reward, lots of hard work, heart rending stories.

Mona hung in there, because she has a huge heart. And attorneys knew her as an effective, if not formidable, advocate.

Mona knows the law. Criminal and Family Court. You can learn a lot of law and garner a lot of wisdom in 32 years. Take my word for it. Some of it is quite ugly and you have to either quit or deal with it. Mona not only dealt with it, she was a formidable force advocating for her clients.

I've known Marcia LeMay for many years as well. I have no disparaging remarks to make about her. She is a fine attorney.

Although I reside outside the Ogdensburg City limits I write to endorse Mona Breen. You can’t give any more than Mona has given to her clients/practice than she has and she will give all that dedication and accumulated knowledge of law to the City Court bench.

Take it from someone who knows the quality of the two candidates.

This isn't a popularity contest and isn't a matter of voting the party of your choice.

This election is far more important than that.

Unsung, unheralded and seriously under paid, for 32 years, this tremendous human being has served the citizens of Ogdensburg.

This City could not possibly do better than to elect her as the next City Court Judge. .

Michael P. Ribley, Esq.

Canton