By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County voters put two Democrats in judge seats on Tuesday.
Joel Kuhlman was re-elected as Wood County Common Pleas Court judge, and Megan Newlove was elected as judge of Wood County Juvenile and Probate Courts.
Newlove won with 27,161 votes (59%) to Republican challenger Doug Ruck with 19,058 votes (41%).
Between now and February, when the probate and juvenile judge position is filled, Newlove plans to shadow current Wood County Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Dave Woessner, who is retiring after many years in the position.
She will also attend training in Columbus and shut down her law office in Bowling Green.
“I’ve got a lot of learning to get up to speed on everything the job entails,” Newlove said.
But she will have a great role model in Woessner, she said.
“I think he has done, by all accounts, an amazing job. I want to continue what he has done.”
Newlove comes to the judgeship with more than 25 years providing services to local families at their most vulnerable times – advocating for families and protecting abused and neglected children, helping create lasting families through adoptions, and guiding clients through estate planning and probate administration.
“Those have always been part of my career,” she said.
Early in her career, Newlove practiced extensively in Wood County Juvenile Court, gaining firsthand experience with the cases that require both legal expertise and deep compassion, such as juvenile delinquency cases, custody disputes, abuse and neglect cases.
Throughout her career, she has served as a guardian ad litem, advocating for children’s best interests, and continues to serve as a volunteer guardian for adults with developmental disabilities.
Newlove sees challenges ahead for the courts, with growing mental health needs and limited resources available.
She supports the juvenile court’s diversion program for youth. “That’s a hugely positive development. You have the opportunity to get them back on track.”
“The Probate/Juvenile Court is where we can make the most meaningful difference in people’s lives,” Newlove said. “Whether it is protecting an abused child, advocating for a family in crisis, guiding individuals through the probate process, or helping create a forever family through adoption – this court serves people at their most vulnerable moments.”
Joel Kuhlman was returned to the judgeship with a vote of 26,623 (57%) to Republican candidate Paul Dobson with a vote of 19,807 (43%).
(Kuhlman was not available Tuesday evening. Comments will be added when available.)
Serving as a Wood County Common Pleas Judge since 2021, Kuhlman said in a pre-election interview that he prides himself in making solid decisions that have stood up to challenges. When Kuhlman, a Democrat, took over the judgeship, cases ruled on by the court were overturned every three months. Now that happens an average of 23 months.
“The quality of decisions has gone up,” he said. “I take my job very seriously. I think about the community I want to live in when I’m hearing cases and employing the law. It’s important that people have faith in the system in Wood County.”
