Three file for Justice of the Peace

What was once a one-horse race has become a competitive sprint as three candidates are now making the mad-dash to become the next Sanders County Justice of the Peace.

By filing the past week, Sue Cooperman and Scott Johnson have now joined Sanders County Justice of the Peace Don Strine on the campaign trail for the Nov. 4 election.

Strine, who was appointed to the office in August 2007 after the late Robert Beitz stepped down due to illness, purchased a house in Thompson Falls in 2004, when his wife Jennifer was hired as a physician assistant at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Clinic.

Strine, 51, moved to Thompson Falls full time in 2006 after retiring as a training coordinator for the Missoula Police Department.

Strine, who started his police career in Carroll County, Md., said he was also the SWAT team leader and firearms instructor during his 20 years in Missoula.

"I have a working knowledge of the criminal procedures of court."

Strine said that his police career had best prepared him to be Justice of the Peace.

He said that his nearly 30 years in law enforcement had also taught him how to deal with and talk to people.

Strine, the father of a 9-year-old son, said there was a "huge learning curve" in switching from being a police officer to being a judge, but he enjoys the challenge. "I just want to continue doing my job and learning my position," he said.

Strine said the challenges of the job and the contact with the public are what he enjoys the most about the job.

"I'm not in it for the prestige of being a judge; I'm not in it for my ego. I'm just in it to help the community and be part of the community service," he said.

Cooperman, 51, filed for the Justice of the Peace Jan. 28. After 21 years of service as a paralegal in the county's Attorney's Office, Cooperman said that becoming the Justice of the Peace seemed like the next logical step in her career and something she has been contemplating for the past 15 years.

Cooperman, who has lived in Trout Creek since 1985 and runs a small cattle operation with her husband Dick, said that while working in the Attorney's Office, she has learned the criminal justice system inside and out and also learned how to deal with the people in the system.

"I've learned you need to listen to people and take the time to listen to both sides," she said.

As a paralegal, Cooperman said she spent a lot of time helping victims of criminal cases.

She became a victim advocate in 2007 and graduated from the one-week Montana Law Enforcement Victim Advocate Institute.

Cooperman said as victim advocate she was a "voice for victims in criminal case" by keeping victims informed of the status of their case, helping them in their trial preparation and securing restitution and explaining the operation of court.

Cooperman, who has been a judge for 4-H demonstrations for 11 years, was also on the Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Response Teams and a member of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Scott Johnson, 56, was appointed the permanent Thompson Falls last fall and has been hearing cases in Thompson Falls and Hot Springs, Johnson, who has lived in Thompson Falls for over 20 years, said when he was appointed judge, he basically had to build the courts from scratch and learned a lot of the process.

"I know a lot more than I did before," Johnson said. "I learned a lot," he added.

Johnson learned a lot about the court system and dealing with criminals as a bail bondsman in Thompson Falls for over eight years. He's held an interest in the law dating back to his high school years and likes to keep up on Supreme Court decisions and examines historical cases.

Johnson said that since becoming a judge, he has come to appreciate the judicial system even more. "I really fell in love with the system," Johnson said.

Johnson, who has had a variety jobs, including truck driver, teamster for movie makers, furniture builder, firefighter, bail bondsman and grave digger, said he has learned a lot since he has become a judge, but still has a lot more to learn.

He said he loves being a judge and hopes to continue as Justice of the Peace.

"I'm really going to enjoy running; I really looking forward to it," he said.