The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), October 11, 2006, Wednesday

The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)

October 11, 2006 Wednesday
CAYUGA EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B1

HEADLINE: VOTERS WILL JUDGE;
THOMAS LEONE SAYS HE HAS LEGAL EXPERTISE TO BE COUNTY COURT JUDGE

BYLINE: By Scott Rapp Staff writer

BODY:
Like his father before him, Thomas G. Leone pursued a law degree and became a lawyer.
Father and son even share the same nickname, "Tucker" - from the nursery rhyme "Little Tommy Tucker" - and now the younger Leone is following his father's career footsteps again. This time, however, he hopes to break rank.
Leone, 49, of Auburn, is running as the Democratic/Independence candidate for Cayuga County judge against Republican/Conservative James B. Vargason, county district attorney since 1992. Leone's father ran unsuccessfully for city judge in the late 1970s.
History links the two county judge candidates: Vargason beat Leone to win a second term as district attorney in 1995.
They are campaigning to succeed Judge Peter E. Corning, who's held the 10-year post since 1980 but has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Corning, a Democrat, must step down at year's end.
Leone, Auburn's corporation counsel since 2000, says he has always wanted to be a judge and believes the timing is right for his candidacy. He also said he has the right blend of life, family and legal experiences - and a strong sense of fairness that he learned from his father - to become "an excellent judge."
"Cayuga County is unique because of the way County Court is structured and I have the legal experience because I've done (all types of cases). I'm not coming from one aspect of the law; I've done it all," he said.
"I know how hard it is to run a business and I know how hard it is to raise a family, and I'm going to bring all those things to the bench," he said.
Generally, state rules governing judicial conduct limits judicial candidates to what they can discuss publicly while campaigning. They can only discuss their job qualifications, careers and judicial philosophy as well as their opponent's job qualifications and career, under the rules.
Because the county has no state Supreme Court or Family Court judges, county judges hear all types of family, civil and criminal cases - from property line disputes to adoptions to murders. The position pays about $120,000 a year, nearly $30,000 more than Leone's current $91,753 salary.
Boyhood friend Joe DiMora says Leone is one of the most compassionate people he has ever known.
"If I were to appear in front of (a judge), I would want someone who is fair and compassionate. Right or wrong, you want to be treated fairly. He fits the bill, he was raised that way," DiMora said.
Leone, an Auburn native, graduated from Auburn High School in 1975 and wanted to become a lawyer like his father, who is nearly 80 and still practicing law. Leone earned his law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1987 and practiced civil, family and criminal law for the next 13 years before becoming full-time city attorney six years ago. He served as part-time corporation counsel from 1996-2000.
He and his wife of 27 years, Deborah, have an adult son and two teenage daughters. The family lives in Auburn. Leone owned Pepper's liquor store in the early 1980s.
"In this campaign, we're stressing that I have the legal expertise for this position. But more importantly, I have a family. I know firsthand the pressures that our families are confronted with what's going on these days," he said.
"Being on both sides of an issue has certainly helped me gain what I believe is the insight and the wisdom to be a good judge," he said.
Leone drives a 1994 four-wheel-drive pickup truck that Democratic Party honchos tried to discourage him from driving on the campaign trail. They said the truck was unbecoming of a judicial candidate.
"I said, "No way. This is who I am,"' he said.
Leone smiles easily but shies at talking about himself. He likes to downhill ski, tinker with a 1977 MG sports car that he has restored and hang with his family. He seldom watches television and golfs on occasion.
However, he faces an uphill fight in this campaign. Vargason has far more registered voters in his camp. Combined, registered Republicans and Conservatives outnumber Democrats and Independence voters by about 2,500 in the county.
If he loses, Leone says it won't be for a lack of effort. He's covered more than 100 miles knocking on doors in the city and county and feels confident that he'll emerge the winner in November.
"I just think we can overcome that (registered) voter deficit because this is really not a Democrat/Republican race. It's not a vote by party lines. This is beyond a political level, it really is," he said.
Scott Rapp can be reached at srapp@syracuse.com or 253-7316.
Thomas G. Leone
Age: 49.
Education: Auburn High School,
Le Moyne College, New York State Industrial Labor Relations School at Cornell University, Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Family: Wife, Deborah; son, Thomas; daughters, Caitlin and Marissa.
Occupation: Full-time Auburn corporation counsel since 2000, part-time corporation counsel 1996-2000; private law 13 years.
Military experience: None.
Political experience: None.
Civic experience: Past board member Auburn Little League, Knights of Columbus Council 207 member, volunteer Auburn Maroon Vanguard marching band, Cayuga County Youth Organization basketball program volunteer, past West Middle School ski club volunteer and chaperone, Auburn Lacrosse Boosters, Auburn Sports Boosters Inc., Junior Achievement volunteer.
If I were judge: "I'd treat everybody with dignity and respect, and certainly make it a point to listen to the people's positions and make a very informed decision based upon the credible facts."

GRAPHIC: PHOTO John Berry/Staff photographer THOMAS G. LEONE,corporation counsel for the city of Auburn, is running against Cayuga County District Attorney James B. Vargason for county judge in November. Judge Peter E. Corning is stepping down at the end of the year, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.