ONTARIO COUNTY, N.Y. — Retiring Judge William Kocher has been adjudicating cases in Ontario County since 2007. Now that he’s stepping down, Russ Kenyon and Kitty Karle are running to be his replacement.

The Republican and Reform party candidates are running campaigns based on their experience.

Karle has practiced as both a prosecutor and defense attorney for a combined 21 years.

"I'm running because I want to serve the residents of Ontario County with my experience and my qualifications,” Karle said. “I want to give back to the community that has given me so much and taught me so much, hard work, honesty, integrity.”

Kenyon has operated his own practice in Canandaigua for more than two decades.

"I know the law, I've been practicing for 25 years,” he said. “I've done criminal defense work, I've adjudicated hundreds of criminal cases, I've worked with families in conflict, I've worked helping families.”

If the votes swing in favor of Karle, the election would be a historic landmark. Karle would be the first female to serve as Ontario County judge, a position housed in the building where Susan B. Anthony was tried.

Kenyon currently serves on the East Bloomfield town bench.

"I think everybody who comes out of my courtroom feels like they got a fair shake. Everyone who's come out of my courtroom feels like they've been heard," said Kenyon.

"They can expect that I'll always be fair, I'll always be impartial,” Karle said. “The prosecution will always get a fair trial, the defense will always get a fair trial. In family court I will always work for the best interest of children and to keep children safe.”

County judges are elected to a 10-year term.