PERRY COUNTY JUDGE HAS EDUCATIONAL TIES

Linton Lewis

   Judge Linton Lewis Jr. of the Perry County Common Pleas Court has alwaysbeen deeply involved in educational issues.
   Early in life, at least, he had no choice.
   Lewis, who issued the lower court ruling in 1994 that led to Monday'slandmark decision by the state Supreme Court, is the son of a longtime schoolprincipal and superintendent.
   In the 1960s, Lewis' late father served as principal of New Lexington HighSchool in Perry County before becoming superintendent of that school system.
   `We grew up in a family that stressed the importance of receiving aneducation and how education was not just a way to better oneself financiallybut to enhance one's enjoyment of life,' Lewis said recently.
   Lewis, 44, said Monday he cannot comment on the Supreme Court rulingbecause the high court has ordered that he review the solutions developedduring the next year by the General Assembly.
   Last summer, Lewis conceded that he was bothered somewhat by a comment madeby Gov. George Voinovich after Lewis' 1994 ruling. The governor suggested thata judge in rural, poor Perry County had no choice but to side with the schoolschallenging the system if he wanted to get re-elected.
   Lewis, a Republican, said he has always been a supporter of Voinovich andthat he was `disappointed he felt that way. I always work very hard on mydecisions.'

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LENGTH: 40 linesILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Linton Lewis Jr.CATEG: LEGAL ISSUES EDUCATION & SCHOOLSSUBJ: JUDGES SCHOOL FUNDING OHIO SUPREME COURT RULING NA: LINTON LEWIS JR. GEOG: PERRY COUNTY MEMO: OHIO SUPREME COURT RULES ON SCHOOL FUNDING ENHANCER: ref5