The following statistics are courtesy of Allegheny County as of Nov. 17, 2021.
JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT:
This is both the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the oldest appellate aka appeals court in the nation. According to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania’s website, this court made up of seven members and most commonly hears “requests for discretionary appeals from the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court, direct appeals from a lower court’s decision, including when a sentence of death sentences is issued, requests to intervene in a lower court’s proceedings, and requests to deliver a body from illegal detention.”
Maria McLaughlin, Democrat, 184,873 votes
Kevin Brobson, Republican, 110,290 votes
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT:
Pennsylvania’s Superior Court is one of the state’s two intermediate appellate aka appeals courts. It often serves as the final arbiter, or decider, of legal disputes.
Timika Lane, Democrat, 172,243 votes
Megan Sullivan, Republican, 120,650 votes
JUDGE OF THE COMMONWEALTH COURT:
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court is one of the state’s two intermediate appellate aka appeals courts. Cases that involve state and local governments and regulatory agencies or involve subjects such as banking, insurance, utility regulation, taxation, land use, elections, labor practices, workers compensation, and liquor licenses are decided here.
Lori A. Dumas, Democrat, 173,079 votes
David Lee Spurgeon, Democrat, 165,272 votes
Stacy Marie Wallace, Republican, 106,163 votes
Drew Crompton, Republican, 101,512 votes
JUDGE OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:
Courts of Common Pleas are one level up from Minor Courts—the first level of Pennsylvania’s judiciary—and are the state’s general trial courts. According to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania website, judges in these courts preside over “appeals from minor courts, appeals not exclusively assigned to another court, and matters involving children and families.” Major civil and criminal cases are heard here. Judges’ terms are 10 years long. Similar to Magisterial District judges, Court of Common Pleas judges are able to serve an unlimited number of terms until they turn 75, which is the mandatory retirement age, and must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania state Senate.
Nicola Henry-Taylor, Democrat, 153, 174 votes
Tiffany Sizemore, Democrat, 151,134 votes
Elliot Howsie, Incumbent, Democrat, 150,872 votes
Wrenna Watson, Democrat, 149,859 votes
Chelsa Wagner, Democrat, 148,534 votes
Lisa Middleman, Republican, Democrat, 147,452 votes
Tom Caulfield, Democrat, 147,367 votes
Sabrina Korbel, Republican, Democrat, 147,303 votes
Bruce Beemer, Incumbent, Republican, Democrat, 141,948 votes
Jessel Costa, Democrat, 140,773 votes
Anthony DeLuca, Republican, 110,422 votes
Joseph Patrick Murphy, Republican, 103,004 votes
Mark Patrick Flaherty, Republican, 102,482 votes
William Bill Caye, Republican, 99,217 votes
Daniel J. Konieczka, Jr., Republican, 97,283 votes
Chuck Porter, Republican, 95,305 votes
Rick Hosking, Republican, 85,111 votes
Richard L. Weiss, Green Party, 41,948 votes
COUNTY SHERIFF:
A county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in a county. They have a four-year term, retain all arrest powers, and have the authority to enforce the criminal laws as well as the vehicle laws of Pennsylvania. They also appoint deputy sheriffs: Allegheny County Sheriff’s Deputies are the only deputies in the state with police powers.
Kevin Kraus, Republican, Democrat, 222,947 votes
MAYOR:
The mayor is the chief executive officer of the City of Pittsburgh. They are elected every four years.
Edward C. Gainey, Democrat, 50,165 votes
Tony Moreno, Republican, 20,162 votes
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES:
PennLive reports that magisterial district judges are “the frontline of Pennsylvania’s judicial system.” They issue arrest and search warrants, oversee arraignments, set bail, hold preliminary hearings for criminal complaints, and hear some civil matter complaints. They can also perform weddings. Each judge must live within the district they serve. Every six years, they must run for reelection. Judges are able to serve an unlimited number of terms until they turn 75, which is the mandatory retirement age. Judges must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania state Senate.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 05-2-42, PITTSBURGH WARDS 26 & 27:
Leah Williams Duncan, Democrat, 3,709 votes
Mark J. Scorpion, Republican, 1,572 votes
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURT 05-2-40, PITTSBURGH WARDS 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25:
Jehosha Wright, Democrat, 3,214 votes
SCHOOL BOARD:
A school board is made up of citizens, or school directors, who administer each district’s school system. They serve four-year terms and are unpaid. According to the Pittsburgh Public Schools website, school board members are “committed to providing the best education possible for every student by providing outstanding teachers, programs, and services that enable every student to achieve their maximum potential.”
SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 9:
Gene Walker, Democrat, 5,298 votes
Veronica M. Edwards, Republican, 2,513 votes
CONSTABLE:
Similar to district attorneys, sheriffs, and the police, a constable enforces and carries out the law. They can arrest for felony crimes and breaches of the peace committed in their presence, or by warrant anywhere in the commonwealth. A constable can serve warrants of arrest and mental health warrants; transport prisoners; serve summons, complaints and subpoenas; and can enforce protection from abuse orders, orders of eviction, and judgment levies. Constables are the sole law enforcement officials permitted at the polls on election day. Their job is to maintain order and ensure that no qualified voter is prevented from voting. They serve six-year terms.
CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 21:
Artice Coleman, Democrat, 605 votes
CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 22:
Mark A. Brentley, Democrat, 696 votes
CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 24:
Jack R. Weber Jr., Democrat, 754 votes
CONSTABLE – PITTSBURGH WARD 27:
Charles R. Adkins, Democrat, 2,188 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION:
The Judge of Election is the person in charge of operating each polling place. They enforce Election Day rules and regulations, tally and verify final results, close the polling site, and pick up and return election supplies and results. These positions are filled every four years.
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 1:
Sheila D. Collins, Democrat, 181 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 2:
Steven Williams, Independent, 154 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 22, DISTRICT 3:
Beth Boroumand, Democrat, 185 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 23, DISTRICT 3:
Michelle Lynch, Democrat, 68 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 3:
Dolores M. Komora, Republican, 90 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 25, DISTRICT 3:
Deborah McCree, Democrat, 136 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 25, DISTRICT 4:
Yvonne W. Rainey, Democrat, 56 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 14:
Gail L. Manker, Democrat, 184 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 16:
Anthony Ganzak, Democrat, 197 votes
JUDGE OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 27, DISTRICT 12:
Donna Kramer, Democrat, 114 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION:
Each Inspector of Election plays the role of assistant to the Judge of Election and shares the responsibility of operating each polling place. They process voters, accompany voters to voting machines, assist voters with special needs, and verify ballot information on the voting machine screen. Once the polls close, they assist the Judge of Election in tallying and verifying the final results and close the polling site.
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 3:
Gloria J. Vogel, Democrat, 101 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 24, DISTRICT 4:
Dona Van Eck, Democrat, 168 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 1:
Karen Edwards, Democrat, 115 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 5:
Sandra L. Youngblood, Democrat, 26 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 7:
Phyllis Bacon, Democrat, 68 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 14:
Kimberly Howard, Democrat, 187 votes
INSPECTOR OF ELECTION – PITTSBURGH WARD 26, DISTRICT 16
Amy L. Ganzak, Democrat, 197 votes
