Avon Lake Judge Will Seek Lorain County Common Pleas Judgeship

AVON LAKE, OH — Avon Lake Municipal Court Judge Darrel Bilancini is running for a judgeship in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.

Bilancini wants to replace Judge Mark Betleski, who will not seek reelection. Betleski's term ends Dec. 2022.

Bilancini has been a judge for the Avon Lake Municipal Court since 2005, first in a part-time role and then in a full-time position starting in 2014.

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Besides his judicial experience in Avon Lake, Bilancini served as a referee in the Lorain County Juvenile court from 1979 to 1981, acting magistrate in the Elyria Municipal Court from 2004 to 2005, and as a mediator and arbitrator in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas for a decade.

Fundraising for his judicial campaign will not begin until November 2021, for a primary election in May 2022. However, the Bilancini For Judge website is now active.

Bilancini was born in Lorain and lived there for 32 years. He is the son of Jacqueline Bilancini and former Lorain firefighter John Bilancini. He is one of 10 children.

Bilancini attended Lorain St. Mary Grade School, graduated from Lorain Catholic High School in 1971 and then matriculated at John Carroll University. He worked summers at the Lorain U.S. Steel plant and docks before going to law school at the Cleveland Marshall College of Law.

After receiving his law degree, he opened a practice in downtown Elyria.

Bilancini has been active in a variety of local groups in Avon Lake, including the Charter Review Committee, a nonprofit community theater group, Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services, Avon Lake Kiwanis Club, Avon Lake Soccer Association, Avon Lake Softball League and St. Joseph CYO.

Bilancini and his wife, Cindy Kirchner, have three children.