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Chief prosecutor sets eye on municipal bench
BENJAMIN WHITE
Associate Editor
Published: August 9, 2013
After a year as Akron’s chief city prosecutor, Gertrude Wilms hopes to continue her public service from another branch as she campaigns for Judge John Holcomb’s seat at the Akron Municipal Court.
The race will pit Wilms, who spent her entire legal career working for the city, against local attorney Julie Schafer, who has spent the majority of her time in private practice and on school boards. Judge Holcomb has not yet indicated if he will run to retain his seat.
“It’s a long-term goal that I’ve been working toward,” Wilms said. “The stars have kind of aligned.”
Since Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic appointed her as chief prosecutor in March 2012, Wilms said she has employed a hands-on approach to the job.
“I am a very active chief. Any day I could walk in and somebody has a sick day or a vacation day, and it ends up me covering the court,” she said.
“It’s a very satisfying job and I can go home every day thinking I made a difference.”
Wilms said she makes an ideal candidate for the bench because of her dozen years of experience working with the municipal court in the city law department.
With the impending certification requirement for Ohio’s specialty courts less than six months away, Wilms said her experience in each of the special dockets would translate seamlessly to the bench. Her office has worked closely with Judge Jerry Larson in creating the forthcoming veterans’ docket.
“I love the court,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve worked with and the relationships with the court.”
For the past five years, Wilms said she remained active in Democratic politics, helping run the campaigns of more than a handful of city, county and judicial candidates. She said the absence of political participation would present the biggest void for her if her campaign succeeds.
After growing up one of five sisters in Salem, Ohio, Wilms earned an art degree from The Ohio State University in 1994. Though she knew she wanted to pursue law one day, she took a job at a collection agency – in Alaska – to gain some real-world experience.
After four years of cold-weather collections, Wilms returned to Ohio to attend The University of Akron School of Law’s dual degree program, graduating in 2011 with a juris doctor and master’s in public administration.
She joined the city law department as an intern during her third year and never left.
Wilms’ campaign, with Akron deputy director of public service Phil Montomery acting as treasurer, has held several recent fundraising events recently and Wilms said she plans to continue to keep a full calendar until November.
This afternoon at 5:30, Wilms will participate in the Richfield Community Days parade where supporters will meet at the grass lot across from the town hall. Her campaign also seeks volunteers to help at the Hamburger Festival at Lock 3 Park on August 17 from 3 to 7 p.m.
Though Wilms could be considered an expert politician, she said she hopes her service speaks for itself.
“I would just ask people to gauge me on my own record, including my experience with the court and my community involvement,” she said.