(Enterprise photos)

In Tuesday’s primary election, Franklin County Republicans and Democrats chose the candidates who will face off in the Nov. 2 general election for county judge: Principal Court Attorney Elizabeth Crawford for the GOP and District Attorney Craig Carriero for the Democrats.

Republicans cast 925 ballots in their primary, with 529 going to Crawford and 383 going to private defense attorney Peter Dumas. Crawford won with 57% of the votes, and Dumas got 41%. There were 96 absentee ballots cast. With a vote spread of 146, these would not be enough to sway the results. There were 12 write-in votes and one spoiled ballot.

Democrats cast 895 ballots in their primary, with 586 going to Carriero and 281 going to Franklin County Public Defender Thomas Soucia. Carriero clinched the primary with 66% of the vote. Soucia garnered 32% of the vote. There were 148 absentee ballots cast. With a vote spread of 305, these would not be enough to sway the results. There were 24 write-in votes and four spoiled ballots.

Crawford has practiced law for 17 years and has been a principal court attorney for the last seven. In this job she said she has been the “right-hand woman” for judges in several local county courts. Working with the judges day in and day out, Crawford said she saw the fine details of the job and how judges make decisions. She said she’s learned from each conversation she’s had with a judge and feels she is ready to be one.

Carriero said in his 17 years at the Franklin County district attorney’s office — five as district attorney — he came to realize how important the judge position is. He said the district attorney role is more similar to a judge than it might appear at first. His goal, he says, is not to seek the maximum sentence in every case. He said some cases call for an aggressive approach, but others — especially nonviolent cases — require rehabilitation.

In November, the two winners will face off on the ballot to determine who will hold the position for the next 10 years. They are running to fill the vacancy on the bench left by the retirement of Judge Robert G. Main Jr., who has held the seat for the last 30 years.