The upcoming primary election on Tuesday could determine the next Family Court judge in Schenectady County.
Four contenders are battling for the Democratic ballot line, including two deputy county attorneys, a former county attorney, and the incumbent judge.
Samantha Miller-Herrera, a former Rotterdam Town Board member and current first deputy attorney for the county, won the party’s endorsement earlier this year, edging out incumbent Jill Polk, who is campaigning for a second 10-year term.
Michael Godlewski, a court attorney-referee overseeing Family Court matters in four counties in the state’s Third Judicial District, is also in the running. The former Glenville Town Board member has a decade of experience prosecuting juvenile offenses as deputy county attorney for Schenectady County.
Deputy attorney Camille Savino Enders, who handles family court matters, is also vying for the nomination.
With the primary election just around the corner, let’s delve deeper into each candidate’s profile.
SAMANTHA MILLER-HERRERA
Miller-Herrera, 41, initially focused on complex estate planning in law school. However, after working on a case involving an infant with shaken baby syndrome, she shifted her focus to family law. She has spent most of her career working with domestic violence victims and handling family law cases.
Miller-Herrera believes that there is room for improvement in resolving family court cases more swiftly and increasing the use of alternative and therapeutic courts within the county. However, she did not provide specific strategies due to restrictions placed on judicial candidates.
As a mother and stepmother to six children, Miller-Herrera has personal experience with family court matters outside her 17 years as a courtroom attorney.
Miller-Herrera’s diverse experience includes time in the private sector, as a hearing officer in the Fourth Judicial District, and as a court referee overseeing foreclosure proceedings. She returned to Schenectady County in 2013 as a deputy county attorney and has been the first deputy attorney for the county since 2017, overseeing juvenile cases in family court.
MICHAEL GODLEWSKI
Godlewski, 41, a Schenectady County native, has spent most of his career working in family court. As the son of divorced parents, he understands the importance of family court and is committed to ensuring that all voices are heard throughout the process.
Godlewski has received endorsements from various parties, including the Conservative Party, Democratic Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, and leaders from other parties.
Godlewski began working as a family court attorney with Schenectady County in 2010. He was promoted to deputy county attorney in 2013 and then first deputy county attorney in 2016. In 2023, he began working as a court attorney-referee for the Third Judicial District and was appointed acting judge for the village of Scotia.
JILL POLK
Polk believes that her family court experience is unmatched compared to other candidates. She has served as the Schenectady County Family Court Judge for 10 years and has 36 years of legal experience.
Polk has the support of several prominent Democrats, including Schenectady City Council members Damonni Farley and Joseph Mancini, Assemblyman Phil Steck, D-Colonie, and Thomas Constantine, a District 3 representative in the Schenectady County Legislature.
As the director of the New York State Family Court Judges Association, Polk regularly meets with state lawmakers and administrative judges to advocate for on-site child care centers, supervised visitation programs, and increased mental health services.
CAMILLE SIANO ENDERS
Enders, a practicing attorney for 28 years, has been an active resident of the county for years. She has served on the Duanesburg school board, as a trustee for the Schenectady County Public Library system, and as a Duanesburg Town Justice.
Enders has been the deputy county attorney for Schenectady County since 2022, where she prosecutes child neglect and abuse cases in family court. She previously worked as the county’s deputy chief assistant public defender.
Enders believes that the court system should reflect the diversity of the parties appearing before it. She emphasizes the importance of having a female judge to lend credibility to women attorneys, litigants, and witnesses.
Agree – Strong candidates with diverse backgrounds will give voters a good choice for Family Court Judge.