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More than a month after his opponents did, West Wendover Justice of the Peace Reese Melville put up his signs and staked his claim to what could be a major campaign issue in the race for the bench.
“A lot of people thought I wasn’t running and asked me why I wasn’t putting up signs,” Melville said. “ I told them that I would as soon as I legally allowed to. City ordinance clearly states that no campaign signs are to be put up until 40 days before the election. I am just abiding by the law.”
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Both of Melville’s opponents Brian Boatman and David Wiskerchen began placing signs around town in April
When asked whether he was aware of the ordinance Boatman said he was but questioned the constitutionality of the ordinance since his signs were on private property.
The city has taken no action against either Boatman or Wiskerchen perhaps for that very reason.
“Really whether its constitutional or not should not be a consideration,” Melville argued. “Especially for someone who says he wants to be Justice of the Peace. Interpreting the constitution is way above our pay grade. Our job is to apply the law as written by city, county or state legislative bodies. Are there some ordinances I might personally disagree with? Sure there are. But I, or any other Justice of the Peace or Municipal Court Judge, do not have the power to throw out a case because we think the law is unfair or unconstitutional. And we (judges) certainly shouldn’t willingly violate an ordinance because we think it is unconstitutional. That is for a much higher court to decide.”
“Even if my opponents don’t,” he explained. “I will abide with the spirit and the letter of the ordinance even if it costs me the election.”
However Melville said he believed his strict adherence to city code should be an issue in the election.
“A local judge has a lot of power,” he explained. “We can issue warrants for searches, we can order arrests and we decide guilt or innocence. We are supposed to be bound by the code of judicial ethics and not disregard it because we don’t agree with it. I think the voters should ask themselves if they want to elect a man who even before he became judge ignored the law because it was inconvenient for him.”
Melville himself has had trouble with the Judicial Ethics Committee.
Last month the committee accepted the stipulation offered by Melville.
According to Melville’s attorney David Lockie the judge agreed to public admonishment for violating judicial conduct rules.
The stipulation says Melville made inappropriate remarks in the presence of witnesses about his former bailiff, Joel Torres, who was named in a criminal complaint alleging domestic violence. The incident happened three years before.
“Reese told me he didn’t even remember saying that,” Lockie said. “ But he also said he well may have. Judge Melville is a stand up guy. He never tried to evade the issue. And what he was accused of while against the rules did not result in any miscarriage of justice or subversion of anyone’s rights.”
“I don’t think it will necessarily hurt his chances of reelection,” said a local poll watcher. “Getting reprimanded for swearing about an accused wife beater is not all that bad. A lot of old school men and women might applaud him for it.”
While the alleged remarks were supposedly made in the fall of 2008, the formal complaint was only made in April 2011 two and a half years later.
Given the fact that Melville is up for reelection several sources close to the case speculated that the timing was not purely coincidental.
“Melville supposedly said something inappropriate,” said one source. “Instead of calling him on it then and there, they wait two and a half years to file a complaint? If the person filing knew anything about how long the average investigation takes, they would have known the result would come out around election time, convenient isn’t it?”
Thanks for misquoting me. I DO NOT question the constitutionality of the City’s ordinance AT ALL. what I said to you, Mr. Copelan, is that people can place signs on their own property whenever they would like. The City doesn’t have any say in when you can or cannot place signs in your own yard any more than they can tell me where in my driveway i can park. This is “Rights 101”. This article is simply an attempt to dissuade voters from Dave and I. We have done nothing illegal or even controversial. The placing of signs on private property is a moot point. Why don’t we talk about something that really matters?
Ready this trash was a serious waste of my energy! The aricle is garbage! It’s very clear that Melville has the support of the idiots writing this trash. I will not bebacker. Both of Melville’s opponents excercised their constitutional rights. I want what’s best for the people of West Wendover. I don’t believe that Melville is what’s best. This ridiculous publicity stunt makes me sick to my stomach.
Mr. Copelan, once upon a time you stated that you’d like to have a “meet the candidate night”. I say, “let’s do it”. LET’S HAVE A NIGHT OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. I would love to answer questions in a public meeting. In fact, I look forward to it. I’m proud of my record and have absolutely nothing to hide. I haven’t done anything illegal, as your article would certainly suggest. Dave is a good law-abiding citizen as well. Between the both of us we have decades of experience enforcing the law. I hardly believe that we would risk our names for the sake of a few signs. I would love to have local residents write down questions to be read by a non-involved party. Someone from out of town would be best. I’m willing whenever the other candidates are.
Change is usually a good thing, I think that it is time for some new blood in the JP’s Office. Also I like the Idea of “LET’S HAVE A NIGHT OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS” By the way I don’t care about the signs being put up early on private property. I think there is more important issues at hand. Just my opinion, nothing more nothing less.
Hey NoBull why not use your real given name? If that is I am so sorry. And a meeting of the candate night The Judges don’t have to and BOATMEN u have broked losts of laws that r on the West Wendover books like parking in the street n putting all your yard things up before the time IT was in FEB you were doing this the book says 40 days before! I have has to look at BOATMEN now for $4 months now and I don’t think it is right I also don’t think it right that the City isn’t doin anything about a LAW they put on the books And iefororcing the laws is not be a JUDGE of the laws. Boatmen U need to get something new to do and not always be on JUDGE Melvilles ass if you ask me.I know who I will be voting for and IT WILL NOT BE YOU MR BOATMAN
To Debbie, wow, after reading your comment, I lost at least 30 IQ points! Boatman has done a hell of alot more for this town than that mullet wearing Melville! Melville works around 11 hours a week when there are things that need to be done. He hires more staff so that he has less work to do for himself. And Howard, what is wrong with you smearing Boatman’s name? You should be ashamed of yourself.
Dear Sauage expree U do not know how the judge is a 24 /7 job so what if he isn’t in the officee 40 hours a week he is on call all the tim!Name onr thing Boatmen has done for this town that he hasn’t stab someone in the back for??? And if you don’t like his hair cut who cares it is his hair ot yours And why is it you and Nobull can’t give your real given name?? CHICKEN maybe.And how do you know how many hours he is in his officee as he won’t talk to the people if they are going to see him in the court room maybe??? So if someone wants to say he is not in the officee 40 hours why should he be as HE IS ON CALL 24/7 what his he just to say hey I was in my officee for 40 hours and now I am done for the week it don’t work that way sorry. And if you LOOK he IS PART TIME get it PARTTIME for a job he has to do 24/7 and only gets paid for a PARTTIME job He does not hirs poeple for his job HIS job is the JUDGE and he does his job. I can’t help but think why you and Nobull can’t use your real names besides you are a Chicken to I am not I will use my name and if you are any one eles don’t like oh well it is the name I was given by my Farther the day I was born some 40 years ago so if you want to say something why hide behind a FAKE name
You know what I have sat here and let you all trash on my Husband well I say enough is enough. No one in this world is Perfect not even you Mr Boatmen. As if any one is Perfect they would be God and the last time I looked not one of you are. I am sick of poeple saying things about how Reese is not in the officee for 40 hours a week but do you know that he is on call 24/7 and Mr Boatman you of all people should know this as how many times did you come to my home after 5pm and weekend at 3 in the morning ect??? He is a part time person that gets part time pay and yet he is on call all the time. Let me ask you something if you know so much what goes on in his life, where was he 4 years 1 month and 7 days ago?? I know he was here doing his job and I was in ICU with MY son! When my daougher got her 1st white coat so she can be the DR she has always wanted to be was he there no. He had to work. And maybe this means nothing to any of you it does to me. So go on say more lies but I am asking my freinds Not to say anything as you think you know everythigng when you have NO CLUE.
Hmmmm??? That’s why one is allowed the OPPORTUNITY to vote! This answer is VERY simple…vote for who you want! This bickering back and forth is ridiculous! Seems to me that Mr. Wiskerchen is the man for the job, as he is the only one not feeding into this BS!
I love crazy people!! lol
Beth, relax,your husband is an elected public servant. The criticism from the public goes with the job. Look how we can trash on the President Of The United States. It is democracy at work. We need to enjoy it while we can. It may end some day. Just chill and let the people speak. Your husband is a big boy let him handle it after all he is the JP right?
LOL…all I will say is that thank god Debbie isn’t running, that woman can’t spell for shit! Good Luck Dave! The only one who deserves the job!!