New Scotland Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, September 29, 2011
Judges Adkins and Wukitsch face no challengers
By Saranac Hale Spencer
NEW SCOTLAND — Margaret Adkins, a Republican, and David Wukitsch, a Democrat, are each running to keep their seats on the bench. Both judges are unopposed, and both are attorneys.
Adkins has served as one of two town justices since 2004, this will be her third term, and Wukitsch has served since he was appointed to fill the seat Supervisor Thomas Dolin left empty in 2007 when he made his first run for his current office. Wukitsch won a subsequent election — this will be his second.
Adkins treats each person who comes before her as an individual, she said this week, and remains impartial even if she knows the person, which is not uncommon in a small town. Wukitsch could not be reached on Wednesday.
Adkins and Wukitsch shift cases between each other when they are presented with someone they know well, Adkins said of handling potential conflicts.
With the not infrequent youth that come before the bench, Adkins says, she sees it as a teaching opportunity as well as punishment. She explains the rules regarding the unlawful possession of marijuana, under which people are usually given another chance after the first time they are arrested, she said, but the second time there can be severe consequences. Adkins has worked with Voorheesville’s high school to help educate students about those laws.
In the years since Adkins has been on the bench, she said, the court has expanded its hours to make it more accessible.
Wukitsch, who has lived in New Scotland since 2000, is a partner with McNamee, Lochner, Titus, & Williams in Albany. When he took the bench in 2007, he said, “I will strive to apply the applicable law to the facts of each case to the best of my ability.”