Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

 

Page 3

 

Prosecutor, Commissioner Pay Fees, Take Out Papers To Run for Los Angeles Superior Court Posts

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

A deputy district attorney and a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner yesterday took out papers to run for Superior Court judgeships.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas A. Gowen, who works in the Central Complaints section of his office, paid the $1,491.60 filing fee to run for the seat of Judge Thomas A. Peterson, while Commissioner Alan Friedenthal has targeted the seat of Judge Charles Rubin.

Peterson is retiring next month. His official retirement date was originally slated to be March 3, but a court spokesperson said the date has been changed to March 6.

Gowen said he became interested in running when he learned of the incumbent’s retirement. While a new judge can be assigned anywhere in the county, he said he was interested in working in Pomona, where Peterson has served, because “the very best years” of Gowen’s 17 years as a prosecutor were spent there.

Gowen was admitted to the State Bar in 1998 and worked as a deputy city attorney in Santa Monica before joining the District Attorney’s Office. He said he anticipates spending $50,000 to $100,000 of his own money on a campaign but would not be comfortable soliciting donations from others.

Gowen, who is married to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Leal Gown, has a potential opponent in John Hurney, a sole practitioner who has taken out signature-in-lieu-of-filing-fee papers to run for the seat.

Friedenthal said he decided to run after Rubin told the MetNews he was almost certain not to run for another term. He has retained consultant Evelyn Jerome and is in the early stages of fundraising, he said.

Deputy District Attorney David W. Stuart has taken out signature forms for Rubin’s seat, along with several others.

 

Copyright 2006, Metropolitan News Company