Through months of campaigning, 393rd District Court judge candidates have attempted to stand out from their opponents, but days before early voting begins Tuesday, there are only slight differences.

Lee Ann Breading

Steve Burgess

Doug Robison

Randy Stout

Lee Ann Breading, Steve Burgess, Doug Robison and Randy Stout are all vying for the seat of Vicki Isaacks, who is retiring, and they have separated themselves by their work experience.

Each candidate has used his or her experience as a way to persuade voters.

Stout, 58, the Denton school district attorney, has campaigned on his work as a family law attorney, which he said makes him a better candidate for the seat.

The other candidates have limited work experience with family law cases, which would make it more difficult for them to make a transition to the seat, Stout said.

“I am the only one that holds themselves out to the public as a family law attorney,” he said. “I am the only one that has the experience.”

Stout is board certified in family law and has tried dozens of family law cases since 2000, he said. While his opponents, he said, have tried less than 20 cases combined.

However, his opponents have said their work outside of family law provides them with a diverse work experience that could be helpful while serving as judge.

Robison, 53, of Argyle has used that argument at several Republican Party forums to help persuade residents to vote for him.

With the court also hearing cases outside family law, Robison said the victor must have well-rounded experience in all areas of the law. His experience gives him the completeness needed for the seat, he said.

“I’ve seen a variety of cases with a variety of lawyers,” Robison said. “The broader and deeper the experience the more you have to base decisions on.”

Robison also is certified but in civil law, not family law.

Because the court does not hear criminal cases, Robison said Breading’s experience in the field does not help her. Voters need to match the candidate to the seat based on experience in civil and family law – not criminal, he said.

However, Breading said her experience will help when family law or civil cases come before the court. She can also draw from her trial experience, which is more extensive than the other candidates,’ she said.

“It makes me as qualified as the next person,” she said. “I have the background of both those areas [criminal and civil law].”

As a former assistant district attorney, Breading said she could best serve the court when those cases intersect. She also noted that five of the six sitting district judges have a background in criminal law, not family or civil.

Breading is not certified by the State Bar of Texas in family, civil or criminal law.

While Robison, Breading and Stout have campaigned primarily on their resumes, Burgess has incorporated his compassion and understanding while also highlighting his experience.

“I feel that I will take people into consideration more so than the other candidates,” he said. “It isn’t taking anything away from them, that’s just how I am.”

Burgess said he can empathize with the people before the court, and he can use that to help push the docket and provide leadership. Both, he said, were reasons why he got into the race.

Like Breading, Burgess is not board certified, but he doesn’t believe certification should matter.

“It is all fairly meaningless for being a judge,” he said. “It tells people without having to delve into your background, but as far as being a judge, the board certification doesn’t have a lot of application.”

Each candidate was unsure of how the race would unfold, but all concede that it would likely go to a run off.

DAN X. McGRAW can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is dmcgraw@dentonrc.com.

Through the first months of their campaigns, the four Republicans vying for the 393rd District Court judge seat have varied on how to build their campaign war chests. Here is a break down of how much money the candidates have, their biggest contributors and how much they’ve spent. Total contributions include both cash and in-kind donations.

Lee Ann Breading

Fund total — $8,241.36

Total contributions — $11,297.32

Money spent — $7,773.77

Top contributors — $1,500 from Wood, Thacker and Weatherly; $1,000 Griffin & Jones; $500 from six people.

Steve Burgess

Fund total — $4,074.35

Total contributions — $16,021.14

Money spent — $11,856.93

Top contributors — $2,000 from Annette Roberts; $1,583.41 from Vic Burgess; $1,366.12 from Vic Burgess; $1,000 from Douglas Wilder

Doug Robison

Fund total — $0*

Total contributions — $11,295.52

Money spent — $32,794.48

Top contributors — $1,677.52 Robison & Robison, Attorneys and Counselors; $500 from 12 people

Randy Stout

Fund total — $5,641.61

Total contributions — $21,210.00

Money spent — $34,635.39

Top contributors — $2,500 from Loretta Powers; $2,500 from Timothy Powers; $2,000 from Harry Stout; $1,500 from Grace Weatherly

* Fund total does not include a $90,000 loan.

LEE ANN BREADING

Age: 50

Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois; law degree from Southern Methodist University

Occupation: attorney

Years living in the county: 16

STEVE BURGESS

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach; law degree from Loyola University, Los Angeles

Occupation: attorney

Years living in the county: 13

DOUG ROBISON

Age: 53

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University; law degree from Villanova

Occupation: attorney

Years living in the county: 20

RANDY STOUT

Age: 58

Education: Bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University; law degree from South Texas College of Law

Occupation: attorney

Years living in the county: 25