Penzato, Amacker win judgeships

The 22nd Judicial District bench has a new face.

With six open seats — four brought about by retirement and two newly created by the legislature — voters made their choices Saturday.

Elected were August J. "A.J." Hand in Division B, Richard A. "Rick" Swartz Jr. in Division C, Allison Hopkins Penzato in Division H, Mary Clemence Devereux in Division K, and Dawn Amacker in Division L.

Those five will join William J. "Will" Crain, elected without opposition, as first-time jurists in January.

Penzato, Amacker and Crain are all Bogalusa natives, having graduated from Bogalusa High School.

Penzato, 51, defeated Stephen Yazbeck in the race for the Division H seat, currently held by Judge Donald M. Fendlason, who is retiring at the end of the year. Penzato received 26,681 (72 percent) votes to Yazbeck’s 10,134 (28 percent). Penzato ran stronger in Washington Parish, outpolling Yazbeck 4,907-1,430 (77.4 percent to 22.6 percent).

Amacker, 50, won the new Division L seat, trouncing Carol Richards Tusa by a 27,847 (73 percent) to 10,339 (27 percent) margin. Amacker maintained that same margin in Washington Parish, outpolling Tusa 5,127-1,882.

Division L will be one of two courts where the judge will hear family and juvenile cases and has been sought for a number of years as caseloads have continued to increase.

A division-by-division breakdown:

Division A — Incumbent Raymond "Ray" Childress was re-elected without opposition.

Division B — A.J. Hand, 47, beat Reginald J. "Reggie" Laurent for the seat being vacated by retiring Judge Elaine DiMiceli. Hand got 25,586 (67 percent) votes to Laurent’s 12,444 (33 percent). In Washington Parish Hand found himself in a much closer race, garnering 3,433 votes to Laurent’s 3,137.

Division C — Richard "Rick" Swartz Jr. avoided a runoff by taking 52 percent of the vote to Warren Montgomery and Edward S. "Ed" Rapier. The Division C seat has been held by Judge Patricia Hedges, who is retiring.

Swartz got 19,420 (52 percent) votes to Montgomery’s 12,913 (34 percent) and Rapier’s 5,212 (14 percent) votes. In Washington Parish Swartz won by a wider margin, getting 3,745 (58.79 percent) votes to 2,224 for Montgomery and 401 for Rapier.

Division D — Incumbent Peter J. Garcia was re-elected without opposition.

Division E — Incumbent William J. "Bill" Burris was re-elected without opposition.

Division F — Incumbent Martin E. Coady was re-elected without opposition.

Division G — Crain was elected without opposition.

Division H —Penzato defeated Yazbeck.

Division I — Incumbent Reginald T. "Reggie" Badeaux was re-elected without opposition.

Division J — Incumbent William "Rusty" Knight was re-elected without opposition.

Division K — Mary Clemence Devereux, 58, won the second family and juvenile cases against Mark Jolissaint and Martha Elliott. Devereux grabbed 19,261 (53 percent) votes to 8,926 (25 percent) for Jolissaint and 8,168 (22 percent) for Elliott. The race was closer in Washington Parish, where Devereux came in under 50 percent with 2,836 votes to 1,807 for Elliott and 1,548 for Jolissaint.

Division L — Amacker defeated Tusa.