Choosing sides

Ever since Judge Gandy's intervention on her behalf, Jeanie Pruitt's life has done a 180 degree turn for the better and for the worse. The couple is in the process of getting divorced, and Gandy has prohibited Joel from making contact with her.

"Judge Gandy and all of his staff," she says, "are so aware of how hard it is to break the cycle. Believe me, it's not like they hit you once and you're out the door. It's so much more complicated than that." On the other hand, she says her husband's refusal to pay child support has forced her to "hock every piece of jewelry I have to buy milk and diapers."

But she believes that, had it not been for Gandy's personal interest in her case, she would still be at her husband's mercy. "I have to give Judge Gandy all the credit in the world," says Pruitt, "for taking the time to spend that much mental energy on that particular person. He's done more to Joel Pruitt than anybody has."

Finn would like his shot at winning that sort of praise, and wants victims' advocates to believe he is on their side, as well.

"I've told them, 'If you like Judge Gandy, then whether he's elected or I'm elected, it's a win-win, because I'm going to work hard for you.'