Written By Gabe Ratton

Why should you vote for Katie Ratton? The answer is simple: she is the candidate with experience on both sides of the courtroom, having served as both a prosecutor in the Special Victims Unit (SVU) and as a juvenile public defender. She has tried over sixty jury trials, ranging from minor misdemeanors to first-degree murder cases. Her qualifications are backed by official endorsements from the Democratic Party, the Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office. As a mother of three (Sk, Anna, and Gabe), she also brings real-world patience and perspective to the bench, knowing how to handle people when they aren't at their best.

Campaigning alongside her offers a firsthand look at her dedication:

• Bartlett: Our day started by checking on a polling location issue where Criminal Court races were missing from local ballots.

• Raleigh: We spent time talking with voters and handing out campaign materials. Campaigners here even have names for the voters they meet: "stoppers" (those who stop to listen), "wavers" (those who think they've decided), and "step-on-its" (those who speed up to pass by). A sudden thunderstorm hit, giving us a good scare when lightning struck just ten feet from our car!

• ATOP: Next was ATOP, always one of the busiest sites. Because the 100-foot campaign boundary doesn't cover the parking area, voters walk right past the campaigners, creating an energetic and direct style of outreach.

• Second Baptist: On Saturday, we campaigned at Second Baptist, where voters were in a hurry, giving us a brief pause before grabbing more campaign shirts and returning to ATOP.

During our second stop at ATOP, a representative from an opposing campaign began spreading false claims that Katie was a Republican. Not only is the judicial seat non-partisan, but Katie is officially endorsed by the Democratic Party. After verifying what was being said, a quick correction setting the record straight was all it took for the issue to resolve itself.