Published: November 05, 2008 05:17 pm      

Granger defeats Fox to become judge of new court in Southern Indiana

Superior Court No. 3 will be created Jan. 1

Democrat Maria Granger will be judge of the new Superior Court No. 3 in Floyd County. Granger, 39, faced off against Republican Rick Fox, 53, in a battle of attorneys.

She received 18,827 votes, or 53.9 percent. Fox received 16,132 votes, or 46.2 percent.

“I am just absolutely thrilled and elated that I won,” Granger said. “I was cautiously optimistic (before the election).”

Granger said she and her supporters campaigned until the final minutes with a strong “get-out-the-vote” effort. She also said key endorsements from several groups, including unions and labor groups, helped push her to victory.

“I think voters believed in our message to build integrity, fairness and respect,” she said.

Granger said her next step will be to meet with the other judges to decide how to best reduce the caseload for the county. Granger will become the first judge of Floyd County Superior Court No. 3, which will be created at the beginning of next year.

Granger said during her campaign that she manages about 600 cases per year as a Supreme Court Hearing Officer. She also has worked as an attorney. She presented herself as someone who worked her way up and is not obliged to family, business or political ties.

“I want to make sure voters know that this court should be about justice for everyone,” she said.

Fox said he will not run for judge again but will remain active in politics. He is the attorney for the Floyd County Commissioners.

“I was confident, but I didn’t know what to expect,” Fox said.

During the campaign, he had said his opponent did not have much trial experience, but he praised her after the election.

“She’s a very nice lady, and she ran a very nice campaign,” Fox said.