Four contested races highlight election that will fill 10 Erie County district judge seats
Eight incumbents and six newcomers are vying for 10 of Erie County's magisterial district judge seats that are up for election this year.
Four of the races are contested in the May 16 primary, with newcomers challenging incumbents in three of the contests and two newcomers seeking a post left vacant by retirement.
Those elected as district judge must be a lawyer or must successfully complete and pass a state-mandated certification class and examination to fill the position, which pays $106,254 annually. District judges serve six-year terms.
All of the candidates on the primary ballot are seeking both the Democratic and Republican nominations.
Election campaign: A number of seats are up in Erie County's minor judiciary. Who's running, and who isn't?
Harborcreek Township
Harborcreek Township District Judge Lisa Ferrick is being challenged by lawyer Bryan Fife in her bid for a second six-year term overseeing a court that covers Wesleyville borough and Harborcreek and Lawrence Park townships.
Ferrick, 50, of Harborcreek Township, practiced law for 18 years, including as an Erie County assistant district attorney, before being elected Harborcreek district judge in 2017. She also serves on the Erie County Truancy Task Force and is a member of the Erie County and Pennsylvania bar associations.
Ferrick said she is seeking another term to use her law degree, her extensive courtroom experience and her enthusiasm for helping people to do good in the tri-community area. She said she enjoys using her knowledge of the law and her legal experience to provide all members of her distict with fair, impartial, compassionate and professional access to the court system.
She cited as her accomplishments during her first term the initiation of a vaping awareness class for school students charged with possessing or using vapes on school property, holding truancy hearings in the Iroquois School District at Iroquois High School, and keeping her office open over lunch to broaden public access.
Fife, 53, a Harborcreek Township resident, has practiced law for 24 years and has specialized in civil litigation. He also serves on the Erie Water Works Board of Directors, where he has been Harborcreek Township's representative for 16 years, and is a board member and past president of the Harbor Creek School Board, which he has served on for 12 years.
Fife, who has also been active in Harborcreek Little League Baseball for more than two decades, said he has spent his time and energy on the school board making sure that every child gets the best education possible while being fiscally responsible. As an Erie Water Works board member, Fife said he has worked to make sure Harborcreek residents get the best quality water at the best price, and that projects get done in the township.
Fife said being a district judge will allow him to continue to give back to his community while putting his knowledge and experience to work.
Voters' Guide: Erie County voters' guide to the races, candidates and issues in the 2023 primary
McKean/Edinboro
McKean District Judge Denise Stuck-Lewis is seeking a fifth six-year term in a race pitting her against Cheryl Comstock in a district that covers Edinboro and McKean and Fairview, Franklin, McKean and Washington townships.
Stuck-Lewis, 59, of McKean Township, was first appointed as district judge in 1997 to fill out the term of her father, Ronald Stuck, who retired. Stuck-Lewis has since served four full terms in the district.
Stuck-Lewis said serving as district judge has been a wonderful experience, and she appreciates the strong community support she has received over the years. She said she prides herself on overseeing a court built on fairness and integrity, and she has strived to make the experience of everyone who enters her courtroom a positive experience.
Stuck-Lewis said she is running for reelection because helping the people in her community has been her life's work. She said she has always been so grateful to do the work day in and day out, and she looks forward to continuing that service to the community.
Comstock, 50, of McKean Township, is a communications supervisor and civilian terminal agency coordinator for the Millcreek Township Police Department. She has 23 years of experience working for law enforcement.
Comstock said she is running for district judge because she believes the greatest thing about an election is that it is about choice and change, but when there isn't choice, people will not know how powerful change can be. She said she wants to be that postive, impactful change that will continue to build stronger and safer communities, build relationships between neighbors through conflict resolution, and help restore faith in the public when there is a need for police intervention.
Comstock said she may not have the experience as a district judge, but has experience working for law enforcement and a willingness to continue to learn, to be fair and impartial, and to be available and to hold herself accountable.
Comstock has not yet attained her state certification.
More: 3 Erie County judge candidates make their cases in race for one seat on the bench
Millcreek Township
Millcreek Township District Juge Laurie Mikielski will face off against Joe Iannello in her bid for a second term in the magisterial district court that covers much of the township.
Mikielski, 48, is a lawyer who has practiced since 2006. She has served as an assistant Erie County district attorney and an assistant Erie County public defender in her career before being elected district judge in 2017.
Mikielski said that, as a former prosecutor and public defender, she has been able to bring a balanced approach to the courtroom. Her background includes a period when she practiced civil law, where she gained experience doing family law.
Mikielski said she is proud that she has been able to establish a good working relationship with the Millcreek Township Police Department and has been able to build relationships with others who have come before her, and who hopefully found her to be fair, impartial and neutral. She said one thing she loves about the job is the opportunity to speak with people and to build a rapport with members of the community.
Iannello, 55, has worked at the Erie County Prison for 30 years and is a member of the Pennsylvania Social Services Union. He is also a longtime basketball referee.
Iannello said he is running for district judge to bring change to the office with the community in mind, from police officers and firefighters to teachers and children. He said he has experience as a corrections officer in dealing with individuals accused of committing crime, and he has worked to ensure they were treated fairly and respectfully while also upholding the law and maintaing order. As a referee, Iannello said he understands the importance of upholding the rules and ensuring that all players are given an equal chance to succeed.
Iannello said he believes every person deserves a fair trial and a chance to be heard regardless of their background of circumstance. He said he is committed to promoting transparency and accountability within the judicial system, and is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards as district judge.
Iannello has not yet attained his state certification.
Springfield Township
Jeff Gadley and Tony Bowers are vying for district judge in a Springfield Township-based court that covers Albion, Cranesville, Girard, Lake City and Platea boroughs and Conneaut, Elk Creek, Girard and Springfield townships.
The seat became open in November following the retirement of Chris MacKendrick, and the duties of the office have been handled by senior district judges and other sitting district judges in Erie County since then.
Gadley, 56, a Girard Township resident, has served as a state constable for 17 years. Born and raised in western Erie County, Gadley has also served the local volunteer fire service for 30 years, currently as fire chief.
Gadley said he is running for district judge to continue to help his community, citing his work in the volunteer fire service, his years of coaching Little Gridders and his involvement in mentoring programs.
Gadley, who previously ran for the district judge seat in 2013, said he has attained the required certification to fill the position.
Bowers, 43, of Lake City, is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriff Training Academy and has served as an Erie County sheriff's deputy for more than 20 years. A member of a law enforcement family that includes a father, grandfather and uncle who served as Erie police chiefs, Bowers said he has served in every division of the Sheriff's Office.
Bowers said of his candidacy that he has given his entire career in public service to protecting people. He said he knows and understands the Erie County court system and has worked with law enforcement, lawyers, judges and the public his entire life.
Bowers has not yet attained his state certification.
Other races
Six other magisterial district judge positions in Erie County that are up for election feature lone candidates with no challengers listed on the primary ballot.
Erie lawyer Alison Scarpitti, 47, an assistant Erie County public defender, is the only listed candidate seeking election to the district court covering Erie's 3rd Ward and a portion of the 4th Ward. The current district judge, Tom Carney, is not seeking re-election.
Erie 6th Ward District Judge Timothy Beveridge is seeking a second six-year term.
Corry District Judge Denise Buell is seeking a second six-year term in a district that covers Corry, Elgin and Union City boroughs and Amity, Concord, Union and Wayne townships.
Greene Township District Judge Susan Strohmeyer is seeking a fifth six-year term in a district that covers Wattsburg borough, Greene and Venango townships, and a portion of Millcreek Township.
North East District Judge Scott Hammer is seeking a third six-year term in a district that covers North East borough and township and Greenfield Township.
Summit Township District Judge Brian McGowan is seeking a third six-year term in a district that covers Mill Village and Waterford boroughs and LeBoeuf, Summit and Waterford townships.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Four contested seats highlight Erie County's minor judiciary election
