To the Editor:

We have a number of important decisions to make when we vote this year. Among them in Canton is voting for the person best qualified to serve as our town justice.

Town justices serve our local courts by arraigning defendants and hearing misdemeanor cases. Believe it or not, it is not a requirement that candidates for town justice in New York actually be lawyers.

In Canton, we are lucky to have a candidate for re-election to town justice who is not only an experienced lawyer with a private practice, but who has served in all of the functions in our legal system, including criminal and family law.

Rosemary Philips has practiced law here for over 25 years. In that time she has been an attorney in the offices of the public defender as well as the district attorney. She has seen the law from all perspectives, and she teaches legal studies at SUNY Canton. She currently serves Canton as our town justice.

She has worked hard for us, and we will be lucky to have someone with her legal experience continue to serve us for another term. She has my vote, and I hope she will have yours. Look for her name on your ballot for Town Justice on the “Fair and Just” independent line, and then mark your ballot for Rosemary Philips.

Dr. Eileen B. Raymond

Canton