Office: Summit County – 9th District Court of Appeals
Age: 58
Residence: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Email: dianacolavecchio@gmail.com
Website: Facebook: Colavecchio for Judge
Occupation: Clerk of Courts – Stow Municipal Court
Education: JD: University of Akron (1989); BA: English, University of
Akron (1986)
Work Experience: Private legal practice (2002 – 2015); UAW-LSP staff
attorney (1991-2002)
Family: Married to Paul Colavecchio, daughter Gabrielle Colavecchio
Affiliations: Stow Chamber, Cuyahoga Falls Chamber, Nordonia Hills
Rotary, Cuyahoga Falls Historic Review Board, Akron Bar Association,
American Bar Association
Endorsements: N/A
Bar Association Ratings: N/A
(1) List your judicial experience (courts and years):
Magistrate – Cuyahoga Falls Mayor’s Court (2016)
(2) What about your non-judicial legal experience qualifies you to be a
judge?
Courts are becoming more and more complex and the judicial officials
elected to run our Courts must have the proper experience,
temperament, education (both legal and technological) and balanced
approach to the administration of justice. I have built a record of
relevant legal experience based on having spent nearly 30 years
devoted to the legal system in various capacities. I served in a judicial
role (Magistrate in Cuyahoga Falls Mayor’s Court in 2013), in a
municipal legislative capacity (Cuyahoga Falls City Council 2006-2013)
and represented everyday citizens practicing law from 1989-2015
(probate, bankruptcy, real estate, guardianship, adoption, estate
planning). Over the years people have trusted me to be their fiduciary
— I have been a Legal Guardian, a Power of Attorney, a Veteran’s Payee,
an Executor and a Trustee. For the past 2 years as Clerk of the Stow
Municipal Court I administer a docket of some 19,500 cases (16,000
criminal/traffic and 3,500 civil) and oversee an office budget of .2
million. I also manage 23 employees. As Clerk, our office implemented
online eFiling. Our Court is the only municipal Court in Summit County
to do so.
Judicial officials should have a balanced approach to decision making —
the decisions they make should be thoughtful and discerning while
understanding the impact on the litigants and others similarly situated.
There is always a big picture to consider — decisions should not be
made in a vacuum. I have always believed that actively participating as a
volunteer in my community has made me a better public servant
because working with people who run organizations outside of my
profession has helped me shape a balanced approach to decision
making in my role as an elected official. I do not operate within a
vacuum.
Most recently, I have served as: Member, Cuyahoga Falls Historic
Review Board; President-Elect, Nordonia Hills Rotary and Member,
Stow Chamber and Cuyahoga Falls Chambers of Commerce. Over the
years, I have served as: Co-Chair, Cuyahoga Falls Library Renewal Levy;
Member, 2012 Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial Committee; Treasurer,
Summit County Catholic Social Services; Member, Cuyahoga Falls
Schools Excellence Initiative. I have even served on a jury!
(3) Why are you running for this particular court seat?
The 9th District Court of Appeals is a Court that reviews lower Court
decisions by Judges across all of Summit, Lorain, Medina and Wayne
Counties. It is the final stop before having your case heard by the Ohio
Supreme Court. Unfortunately, not many cases find their way to the
Ohio Supreme Court because it cannot and does not accept all
appealed cases. That is why it is very important for the 9th District
Court Judge to thoughtfully discern your case and the unique issues
you present to the Court and analyze each issue with a view toward
determining how the result will impact not just your life, but the lives of
people similarly situated and those lives tangentially affected as well. I
think all people would agree that that is the basic duty of the 9th
District Court Judge. I am running because I believe that the 9th
District Court Judge should do more. The Judge should make decisions
that balance our Constitution and related laws with the conscience of
society. This means that the core values of people from of all walks of
life need to be considered, not just those who are privileged. When
people have faith that their judicial officials can adequately balance
these competing forces, then they can have confidence in their Courts.