Lansing Town judge vying for county judgeship

Lansing Town Judge Maura Kennedy-Smith announced on Jan. 4 she will be aiming to fill a soon-to-be-vacant Tompkins County judge position.

Judge Kennedy-Smith, who will run on the Democratic Party line, made the announcement days after longtime County Judge John C. Rowley submitted a letter of resignation to the County Board of Elections and New York’s Unified Court System. The Ithaca Voice initially reported that Rowley will retire at the start of March after serving on the bench for 23 years. 

In The Ithaca Voice’s report, members of Rowley’s staff noted that the longtime county judge will turn 65 next month, which is five years shy of New York state’s mandatory retirement law. Staff members also noted that he wants to spend more time with his family. Rowley himself said that he wants to focus on other pursuits, such as agriculture, gardening and beekeeping. 

Kennedy-Smith, who was originally elected town justice in 2018, is a Tompkins County native and a highly experienced lawyer who has experience in felony criminal proceedings, treatment court and surrogate court. She has previously served on the Tompkins County Treatment Court team and as the principal court attorney for County Judge Joseph R. Cassidy, according to a press release.

If elected, Kennedy-Smith, 53, would be the second woman in Tompkins County’s history to hold the county judge position, marking a significant moment after the county has gone for more than 30 years without a woman elected to the county court bench.

“I am running because I care deeply about this community,” Kennedy-Smith said in a statement. “I grew up here and have chosen to raise my children here. If elected, I will continue to give back to the families of our community. County court deals primarily with issues affecting families, especially children, [and] I will bring a fresh and important perspective.”

The press release also highlighted Kennedy-Smith’s ties to the community. She is a native Ithacan and resides in Lansing with her husband of 26 years and their two teenage children. She is a Cornell University alumna and received her law degree from New York University’s School of Law.

This is Kenndy-Smith’s second campaign for Tompkins County judge. She ran for the position in 2019 but eventually dropped out of the race.

Despite an early campaign announcement, Kennedy-Smith has already secured endorsements from key local and state officials. State Assemblymember Anna Kelles, D-Ithaca, endorsed Kennedy-Smith on Jan. 4, when the town judge announced her campaign for county judge.

“I am honored to endorse Maura Kennedy-Smith to be our next Tompkins County Court Judge. She is a brilliant, compassionate and fair judge with unmatched county court experience,” Kelles said. “She has unparalleled experience working with family court and specialty courts like integrated domestic violence court, experience that will ensure continuity to a deep commitment to children and families in our county. Our community could not have a better candidate for the next county court judge.”

Newly elected Lansing Town Board Supervisor Ruth Groff told Tompkins Weekly last week that she also endorses Kennedy-Smith.

“She is highly respected by those who know her and have worked with her,” Groff said. “As an attorney with experience in the local and county court systems, she is more than qualified for the position.” 

If Kennedy-Smith leaves her seat as Lansing Town Justice mid term, the town board would have to step in to appoint a replacement to the vacant position until a special election can be held in November 2025. The term of that newly elected justice would last only a year, the duration of the remainder of Kenney-Smith’s current term. 

“This process is necessary only if Maura [Kennedy-Smith] wins the election this November. Then, the town board will appoint a replacement for 2025,” Groff said. “A special election in 2025 will grant the winner of that election a term for only 2026. After that, the term of that office will be back on track.”

Election day for the Democratic primary is June 25.

Lansing at Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:
Lansing Community Library’s Programs for Adults Committee will meet Jan. 10 at the library’s community room from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to brainstorm and share the ideas they would like to see realized at the Lansing Community Library this year. 

“We are excited to hear your thoughts and brainstorm together, “ reads a statement on the library’s website.