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Cayuga County voters, though, sent a clear message: They wanted Buschman, a longtime Auburn attorney, to serve as family court judge. 

Buschman received 21,152 votes, or 60% of the overall tally, on the Republican and Conservative lines to defeat Democratic candidate Kristin Garland, an associate Auburn City Court judge. 

The victory came six years after Buschman narrowly lost the race for Auburn City Court judge. During a recent interview with мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼ at his Auburn office, he recalled that first run for a judgeship and how he heard people say good things about him. He got caught up in that, he said, even though he knew it would be a tough race. 

Losing that election was a sobering experience for Buschman. When he launched his campaign for family court judge over the summer, he felt confident because of his qualifications. 

"However, you never know," Buschman said. "Our mantra throughout was we will not be outworked and then let the chips fall where they may." 

The campaign was a family affair, with siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces helping the cause. Buschman and his family knocked on doors and attended community events to highlight his experience for the job. 

As the results trickled in on election night, he was surprised by the margin. He received crossover support from Democrats and unaffiliated voters, which gave him a sizable lead over Garland. That is humbling, he said, because it shows voters took the politics out of their decision and voted for the person they believe is the best candidate. 

Sitting in his Court Street office, Buschman discussed preparations for becoming the third countywide judge. He will be sworn in on New Year's Day and spend the next two days attending virtual training sessions. During the week of Jan. 6, he will participate in classes for new judges at the New York State Judicial Institute at Pace University. The sessions will cover a range of topics, from ethics to the law. 

Locally, Buschman's mentor is Cayuga County Judge Thomas Leone. He has practiced before Leone for many years and knew him when he served as the city's corporation counsel. That relationship is beneficial, he says, because he can seek Leone's advice. 

When Buschman is sworn in, he will be taking Cayuga County Judge Jon Budelmann's office. Budelmann is moving to another office — part of the renovations needed to make room for a family court judge. 

While much of Buschman's workload will focus on family court, he learned that he will be handling some felony criminal cases. That's a newer area for him, he said, because he's largely practiced in family court during his legal career. He's embracing that challenge and has already spent time shadowing Leone during criminal proceedings. 

Buschman has already made key staffing decisions. His law clerk will be Michele Driscoll, an Auburn attorney who has practiced in family court for more than 20 years. 

"I wanted to have somebody I can relate to, but also that's going to challenge me and has a knowledge of the law that I can speak with on an even level," he said. "A lot of people go with younger people and kind of mold them. I wanted somebody who could hit the ground running because I felt it was so important to get things moving as quickly as possible." 

Denise O'Grady, who has been Buschman's assistant at WHMB P.C. law firm, will be his confidential secretary. 

Before taking office as family court judge, Buschman is winding down his law practice. He said there's "nervous energy" because he's changing careers later in life. He is ensuring his clients' cases are either finished or passed onto another attorney. He also needs to end any business affiliations to meet the ethical requirements for being a judge. 

After completing his training, his first day in the court offices will be Jan. 13. The following week, he will have a court calendar. 

Buschman's preparations aren't limited to classes and shadowing judges. He plans on gathering feedback from other family court attorneys. He wants to coordinate court schedules and work with attorneys to set up pretrial conferences to provide feedback, which can help resolve cases. 

"That is a huge piece that when I first started practicing we had because that allows you then to go to your client and say 'This is the pitch I made, this is what the other attorney said and this is how the judge is thinking,'" he said. 

Buschman also plans to reach out to social services, particularly agencies assisting those with mental health or substance abuse disorders. A lot of family court cases, he said, involve mental health issues or substance abuse problems. He believes it's important to bring in the agencies to assist affected individuals "because if people can't take care of themselves, they can't take care of their families." 

As Buschman prepares for his next chapter, he is closing an important one in his life. As a law school graduate, he made the decision to return to Auburn — his hometown — instead of taking job opportunities in Ohio. He recalls walking into WHMB's Court Street office with the goal of making a life for himself. 

Within the next two weeks, he will leave that office for the last time. He admits there's "a little sadness" as he departs, but he's excited for the challenge of becoming a county judge. 

"I want people to understand they entrusted me with this position and that I'm going to do everything that I can to make it work for the community and for the people that come in front of me," Buschman said.