Long Beach Judge Leading in Re-Election Bid

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge who successfully unseated an incumbent judge to win a seat on the bench six years ago was easily winning re-election tonight.

Lynn D. Olson, who was running a bakery with her husband when she ousted Judge Dzintra Janavs in 2006, was rated as ``not qualified'' by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, but her opponent -- attorney Douglas Weitzman -- didn't fare any better with the group.

All those in the lead were - coincidence? - endorsed by the Los Angeles Times.

And Judge James D. Otto, the supervising judge in Long Beach, was also easily winning re-election over opponent Kenneth Hughey, a retired deputy city attorney.

Another sitting judge, Sanjay T. Kumar, was handily fending off a challenge from Hawthorne Assistant City Attorney Kim Smith. Three other judicial positions were up for grabs:

--In office number 3, homicide prosecutor Sean D. Coen was leading the race over prosecutor Craig Gold, attorney Joe Escalante and litigator Laurence Kaldor.

--In office 65, prosecutor Andrea C. Thompson held a strong lead over homicide prosecutor Shannon Knight and prosecutor Matt Schonbrun.

--In office 114, prosecutor Eric Harmon was easily defeating environmental attorney Berj Parseghian and consumer attorney Ben Brees.

--With City News Service reporting.