Judge Edward C. “Russ” Kenyon has filed petitions at the Ontario County Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot in this fall’s election for Ontario County Judge. A lifelong Republican and 40-year resident of Ontario County, Kenyon filed petitions to run on the Republican and Reform Party ballot lines.
“The people of Ontario County deserve a choice in this year’s election. It shouldn’t be up to a select few elites to decide who holds such a vital position as County Court Judge,” said Judge Kenyon. “It would be truly shameful if political insiders try to manipulate the system to deprive the people of Ontario County from having a choice in this election.”
Judge Kenyon currently serves as Town Justice in East Bloomfield. He has presided over hundreds of cases covering a wide range of legal matters, including criminal, civil, small claims, landlord-tenant and municipal law matters. He also has conducted many arraignments, hearings, dispositions and trials.
“The individuals who appear in Ontario County Court may be facing the toughest challenges in their lives. They must have confidence that the Judge presiding over their cases will make decisions without fear, favor or bias,” added Judge Kenyon. “Unlike my opponent, I have experience serving as a judge, so voters can look at my record and see that I have served with the highest level of integrity and honor.”
Beyond his service on the bench, Judge Kenyon has worked for the past 25 years in private legal practice at Kenyon and Kenyon Law Firm in Canandaigua in partnership with his father, Bill Kenyon. Among other areas of expertise, Judge Kenyon has represented hundreds of senior citizens – helping them plan for long term care, Medicaid, disability and estate planning.
Judge Kenyon has also spent countless hours over the past three decades volunteering his time for worthy Ontario County causes, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce, Ontario ARC, Ontario County Tourism Promotion Bureau, Finger Lakes Visitor’s Connection, Canandaigua Senior Housing, NYS Office of the Aging, Ontario County Office for the Aging and FF Thompson Health System Ethics Committee. He has also helped countless children in our community as a volunteer coach and official for youth soccer, skiing, swimming and diving.
Judge Kenyon is a graduate of Marcus Whitman High School, the University of Rochester and the Wake Forrest University School of Law. He lives in East Bloomfield with his wife, Heather (also a graduate of Marcus Whitman), who serves as a School Psychologist with Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. They have two children who attend Bloomfield High School.
This fall’s Primary Election is slated for Thursday, September 13, while the General Election is scheduled for November 6. The position is on the ballot this year due to the pending retirement of Judge William F. Kocher.
