OL's Kraig Kinney to run for superior judge

KINNEY

Kraig Kinney has announced his candidacy for superior court judge of Putnam County for the general election on Nov. 4.

Kinney has been appointed by the Putnam County Democratic Party as their candidate for the position.

"I believe that the residents of Putnam County deserve a choice for the position of Superior Court Judge," Kinney said. "I believe the voters of this county want an opportunity to choose a judge who will best serve them."

Kinney has been an attorney for the past 10 years. He obtained his undergraduate bachelor of arts degree in political science and history from DePauw University in 1992 and attended (part-time) Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, where he graduated in December of 1997.

Kinney took the spring bar examination and passed on his first attempt. He was sworn in as an attorney in May 1998.

Kinney has nearly six years' experience as a Marion County deputy prosecutor. From May of 1998 to January of 2004, he worked his way from a criminal misdemeanor court to his final position as a felony prosecutor.

The felony courts of Marion County handle crimes ranging from forgery to robbery to burglary to murders.

Besides hundreds of court trials, Kinney handled 32 jury trials, of which six were homicides.

"One of my primary themes is that I can bring the citizens of Putnam County extensive trial experience combined with my small town values," Kinney said.

Kinney also cites his work experiences during his career and law school as valuable in his development as an attorney.

He served as an intern, while at DePauw, in the Howard County Circuit Court and worked as a bailiff in the Marion Superior Court 10, Civil Division, for two years. He also worked as an intern with a private law firm in Mooresville and with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

"The Putnam County Superior Court hears such a wide variety of cases in both the criminal and civil spectrum that having a wide background is crucial," Kinney says.

Kinney is currently the executive director for Putnam County Operation Life, a position he has held since December of 2004. Kinney has been affiliated with Operation Life since November of 1990 and holds a paramedic certification.

Kinney was honored with the 2007 Hall of Fame Award by the Operation Life Board of Directors for his service to the organization and for leading Operation Life out of a financial crisis in 2004.

"My Operation Life experience has given me a business and management background that could prove invaluable as a judge," Kinney said. "A judge is not just a solid attorney with experience, but also someone who must be organized and capable of management."

While at Operation Life, Kinney has also served as a pro tem judge for several courts in Marion County and kept his license to practice law active through attending legal training each year. He is a member of the Putnam County Bar Association.

Kinney lives in Cloverdale Township in Parkers Place subdivision, and has served as the Homeowners Association president since its inception.

When asked why he is running, Kinney said, "I enjoy serving as executive director for Operation Life, but this is a means of further serving the people of our county.

"I feel I bring the qualifications and experience necessary to serve as a county judge from day one on the job. I look forward to meeting and talking with the citizens of Putnam County."

Ellen Davies of Cloverdale has been appointed as Kinney's treasurer.