Mansfield attorney Robert A. Franco has announced his candidacy for Judge of the Richland County, Ohio, Probate Court.

Franco is a longtime Richland County resident and attorney whose practice has focused substantially on matters within the jurisdiction of the probate court. His experience includes estate administration, guardianships, trusts, estate planning, name changes, real estate titles, and disputes involving estates and property rights. Throughout his career, he has represented families, executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, property owners, farmers, and local businesses in matters carrying significant personal and financial consequences.

His probate court experience also extends beyond the types of cases most commonly associated with the court. Franco has represented farmers in eminent-domain proceedings involving FirstEnergy’s appropriation of rural property for electric transmission lines.

“Most people understandably associate probate court with estates and guardianships, but its jurisdiction is broader than many realize,” Franco said. “It can include important cases affecting farms, property rights, families, and local public bodies.”

Franco said that broad experience has given him a strong appreciation for the responsibilities of the office. “Whether a case involves administering an estate, protecting a person who needs a guardian, or determining how a public project will affect a family farm, the people involved deserve careful preparation, a fair hearing, and a court that understands the practical consequences of its decisions.”

Franco earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He received his law degree and an LL.M. in Business and Taxation from Capital University Law School, graduating summa cum laude. He is licensed to practice in Ohio and has also been admitted to practice in several federal courts.

In addition to his legal practice, Franco has extensive experience in the real estate and title industries. He founded Source of Title, an online news and professional resource for the title industry. He also served as a charter member and officer of the National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors and currently serves as underwriting counsel for General Title Insurance Company. Earlier in his career, he served as an adjunct professor at North Central State College, where he taught Business Law and Real Estate Law and enjoyed the opportunity to work with students.

Franco said he tries to carry a simple philosophy into both his professional and personal life: “It seems like too often people think their job is to make everybody else’s job just a little bit harder. I try to remind myself that if each of us looked for ways to make things a little easier for the people around us, the world would be a much better place.”

He believes that same philosophy should guide how the probate court works with the attorneys who appear before it.

“Consistent with the law and applicable court rules, the court should provide reasonable flexibility so attorneys can effectively help their clients,” Franco said. “A judge should also recognize that an attorney may have particular knowledge of a statute, transaction, factual setting, or specialized area of law. A judge should listen carefully, remain open to persuasion, and have the humility to recognize that no one person has every answer. That approach better serves the court, the attorneys, and, most importantly, the people whose rights and responsibilities are being decided.”

Franco and his wife, Kara, live in Richland County, where they are raising their twins, Zef and Zoey, who attend school in Ontario. Outside his law practice, Franco enjoys quiet evenings at home with his family, watching movies, playing card games, and tinkering with technology, including smart-home automation and small programming projects.

“Running for office is outside my usual comfort zone,” Franco said. “But I care about this community, I understand the work of the probate court, and I believe my experience has prepared me to serve with fairness, careful attention to detail, and respect for every family and individual who comes before the court. I look forward to meeting people throughout Richland County, listening to them, and earning their confidence.”

Additional information about Robert Franco and his campaign is available at www.electfranco.com. The campaign may also be followed on Facebook and Instagram.