Lancaster said while she wanted the job, it’s important to remember the role means serving the community first.
“I ran a race that was focused on my qualifications and my activities in the community,” she said. “As a result of that I had a really amazing number of grassroots folks that came forward and supported me from all sectors of our community.”
Both Lancaster and Vaughn have years of experience in the court system. Vaughn was appointed to replace Judge Joseph Monnin, who retired after a 22-year career with the court.
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Vaughn is a former Cedarville University law professor who also served seven years as a staff attorney at the Ohio Supreme Court and later moved into private practice.
Lancaster has worked as a magistrate in Clark County since 2000. She also worked for eight years at the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services.
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No Democrats are seeking the seat, meaning Lancaster will run opposed in the fall.
The juvenile court, a division of the Clark County Common Pleas Court, has more than 80 employees. The judge oversees both the juvenile clerk of court’s office and the detention center, which employs cooks, teachers, bailiffs, stenographers and other administrative positions. The position includes a six-year term.
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Lancaster said Tuesday she attended a small celebration at the Tavernette Restaurant in Medway after the race.
“I’m very humbled by the amount of support I got from the community,” she said.
Lancaster has served in various roles in Clark County for 26 years. She started her career in the Department of Job and Family Services as a trial attorney handling child support cases. She also served as a legal coordinator and served as the agency’s assistant deputy director. She has also served for the past 18 years as a magistrate under Judge Thomas Capper deciding divorce and child custody cases among other duties.
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