LIMA — Judge William Zimmerman told Allen County Republicans at their luncheon Friday about his community involvement outside of sitting on the juvenile and probate bench in Shelby County.
When Zimmerman decided to run for the 3rd District Court of Appeals, he said he sat down to write out all his activities so he could tell people about the activities in a speech.
“I said to my wife, ‘It seems like I’m writing my obituary,’” he said.
Zimmerman gave his “A-Z list” of activities and accomplishments that included professional activities such as being a lawyer and judge, to raising his four children to coaching high school football.
He said he enjoyed his community involvement and wants to continue serving the community as an appellate court judge. He said he has more time now, with all his children grown and out of the house, he said.
“I’m not a person who stands on the sideline,” he said.
Zimmerman has been the probate and juvenile court judge in Shelby County for the past seven years but has worked as an attorney for 36 years.
“It’s really an eye-opening experience to be judge. I think it makes you a better lawyer,” he said.
As the juvenile judge, he deals with a lot of family problems. He said 40 percent of births in Shelby County are to unwed mothers, compared to 7 percent 45 years ago.
The judge said he helps train new juvenile court judges in Ohio and has developed a program to help children ages 7 to 9 who have challenging home lives. His court works with the schools to reach out to the children and get them help to try to prevent them from entering the juvenile court system as teenagers, he said.
“Let’s fix the problem when they are this big,” he said holding his hand out to indicate the height of a young child, “so we don’t have them when they get older.”
As probate court judge, he said he’s dealing with more mental health problems such as parents with Alzheimer’s and children with mental health issues.
Zimmerman is running as a Republican in the March primary. Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor Amy Ikerd is also running for the post as a Republican.
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