Strohmaier won't seek re-election

DAVENPORT — Lincoln County Superior Court Judge John Strohmaier announced this week that he will not seek a fourth term.

Strohmaier, who has served since 2008, will leave the bench in January.

Strohmaier says he and his wife would like to be able to travel while they are still in good health.

“I went back and forth on this,” Strohmaier said. “I thought, ‘Well, I can go longer. I’m heathy.’ But then I thought, ‘Maybe it’s a good idea to retire while you’re still healthy.’”

Strohmaier, 64, said he would have been interested in staying on the bench another year or two, but not four years.

If he served only one or two more years, it would be up to the governor to choose a replacement for the unexpired term.; Strohmaier says he’s not willing to let that happen.

“People [in the county] would not like to see another person, from outside the county, decide who the judge is, if I retired early,” Strohmaier said. “Most people felt, ‘If you go for four more years, you need to go for those four years.’ I don’t want to work until I’m 69.”

Strohmaier says he has not ruled out future work as a mediator or a law instructor, although he says he doesn’t have to make any decision right now.

“I’m still working until January,” Strohmaier said. “I’m not done yet.”

There’s lots about the job he says he will miss. He says the courtroom can be engaging when the attorneys go back and forth with legal issues.

He also said there will be things he misses less.

“It’s quite an isolated job,” Strohmaier said. “You go into court and hear whatever it is. Then, when you’re done, you go back into chambers and everyone goes out a different door. The attorneys will go for lunch, but you stay pretty isolated.”