Two candidates are competing to be justice of the peace in the Maryvale precinct.
Francisco Javier Sobampo, who goes by Javier, is running against incumbent Andy Gastelum for the spot. They are both Democrats.
Sobampo is an attorney and the managing director of the Sobampo Law Firm in Phoenix. He previously served as a judge pro tempore in Maricopa and Gila counties.
Gastelum is running for reelection to the justice seat he has held since 2007.
Maricopa County has 26 justice courts, each with one justice of the peace. Candidates do not need to be attorneys or have specific education. Among their duties, justices of the peace have oversight of cases about traffic infractions and evictions, civil suits up to $10,000 and protective orders.
Early voting began on July 3. Voters who cast their ballots by mail are advised to do so by July 23, and those who choose to submit their ballots in person can drop them off at a ballot drop-off or voting location by July 30.
The Arizona Republic asked the candidates to answer questions about their approach to the office if elected. Only Sobampo responded. Here's what he had to say. Answers have been edited for clarity and abridged.
Why do you want this job?
Javier Sobampo: I seek the position of justice of the peace for the Maryvale precinct because, as a resident of Maryvale, I want to bring good change to my community. For my entire life, I have been involved in public service and volunteer work, and for almost 14 years, I have dedicated a sizable portion of my time to helping the underserved. I now want to expand my work as a public servant. As justice of the peace, I (would be) committed to upholding the highest standards of judicial conduct and to applying the law in a fair and impartial manner. Lastly, I plan to implement new, fresh ideas and strategies to maximize the court's resources to help educate, encourage better decision-making and make a positive impact on people's lives.
Why do you think you are the most qualified candidate for this position?
Sobampo: My cultural, educational and professional background makes me uniquely qualified for the job. I still believe that a person's word is their bond and that arduous work and good moral character is the foundation of every community. The foundation of my character comes from growing up in a household of humble means raised by hard-working immigrant parents.
I have a well-rounded and extensive professional background. For approximately 15 years prior to becoming an attorney, I owned and operated several businesses and have held several licenses in the area of real estate, finance, insurance and construction. I have a bachelor's degree in business management, a master's degree in educational leadership and a juris doctorate.
I have been a licensed litigating attorney for over 13 years. I am admitted to the State Bar of Arizona and the Yavapai Apache Tribal Court. As an attorney, I have appeared before many of the Maricopa Justice Courts, and for approximately four years, I have worked as judge pro tempore in the Justice Courts of Maricopa and Gila Counties. I resigned from the Maricopa Justice Court last year to be able to run as a candidate in this election, but I continue to serve as a substitute judge in Gila County. Although the justice of the peace position does not require a law degree or legal experience, the constituents are better served by having someone with experience doing the job from day one!
Lastly, I believe that the Maryvale precinct would benefit from a justice of the peace who is in touch with the community and who brings innovative ideas and a fresh energetic mindset that aims at improving service and access to the court.
What qualities do you think make a strong foundation for a justice court?
Sobampo: I believe the best quality that a public servant must possess is the ability to care about others! Also, I subscribe to the concept that a justice of the peace is a community judge, and as such, he or she must reach out and connect with the community and listen to the needs and concerns of the constituents. I am running my campaign on the pillars of experience, fairness and respect, but even though solid professional experience and strong academic achievements are key to performing the job, I believe it is vital that a justice of the peace is able to connect with those that come before the court and to treat them fairly with empathy and respect. "No one cares how much you know, unless they know how much you care."
What do you think of the eviction process in Maricopa County?
Sobampo: Unfortunately, I think that the number of evictions will continue to increase in the future. As a judge pro tempore, I have presided over thousands of eviction actions during the pandemic, and I identified some overarching realities: 1) Landlords are usually represented by counsel, whereas tenants rarely hire an attorney to defend them; 2) Self-represented litigants, both landlord and tenants, show a huge gap in statutory and procedural knowledge relating to evictions; and 3) All parties appreciate being treated with dignity and respect regardless, even if the ruling was not in their favor.
I will work on forming collaborative alliances with community organizations to bring education, training and affordable legal representation to the community. Second, I will implement programs that streamline processes to save time and make it easier for self-represented litigants to navigate the sometimes complex court process. Third, I will strive to find more compassionate and fair sentencing alternatives within the framework of the law. Lastly, I will treat every person that appears before the court, regardless of the reason they are there, with dignity and respect.
Reach the reporter at christina.avery@gannett.com.
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