Hutchinson ? The Democratic candidate for a Reno County judgeship says the incumbent judge just doesn’t have the enthusiasm for the job that he once did, and it’s time for a change.

And Sarah Sweet-McKinnon has inside information she’s married to the judge.

The Republican judge, Steve Becker, and his public defender wife are both running for the seat on the Division 3 bench in the Nov. 5 general election.

And they’re both relieved that the election is close at hand.

“I’m ready to get it over with,” said Sweet-McKinnon, a public defender with the South Central Kansas Regional Public Defender’s Office in Wichita.

“It’s been fun and all that. But when you’re trying to schedule things, you’re trying cases, that gets a little stressful because the job comes first.”

Her opponent agrees.

“I won’t miss the publicity,” Becker said. “I’m going to be very glad when this is all over. I don’t like politics in the judicial arena.”

The incumbent judge has spent zero on campaigning.

“I just don’t think anything’s needed,” he said. “I have name recognition throughout the county, thanks to all my years of service and the media attention this doggone race has drawn.”

Sweet-McKinnon said it was time for a change.

“I have so much to offer Reno County, and I really can’t as long as Steve’s on the bench.”

She said her husband lacked enthusiasm and energy.

“He has a very high-profile, high-stress job,” she said. “Lots of cases run in and out of his courtroom. It’s taken a toll. I don’t think he has the energy and the enthusiasm that he had 10 years ago. I would bring that to the bench.”

A third-party observer, District Court Clerk Pam Moses, said the two had rubbed off on each other during their 10 years together.

“Steve is a good guy, very hard working and he knows his job,” Moses said. “Sarah is very nice, very professional when I worked with her at Legal Services. I think she has the same kind of professionalism and cool that Steve has.”

There will be no regrets when the results come in Tuesday, the couple said.

“I look at it this way,” Becker said. “For a number of years, the voters never had a choice with me. No opponent. If they choose someone else this time, that will be all right.”