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<p>Four Mountain Top men will be running to fill the position of magisterial district judge in Mountain Top, a position that had been held by Ronald Swank for the past 40 years.</p><p>Swank stepped down from full-time status in January. But, as a senior judge, he has been fulfilling some of the duties of the position part-time.</p><p>All of the men say they respected Swank as a district judge and are now hoping voters would allow them to fill that position, with the same sense of justice Swank exhibited.</p><p>Ferris Webby, John Augustine, Brian Macko and Thomas Szoke say that are uniquely qualified for the position, with each citing their commitment to the community and ability to be fair.</p><p>All say they will enter the primary in May 2017, with voters making a final decision in November.</p><p><strong>Ferris Webby </strong></p><p>Webby, a resident of Slocum Township, points out his 30 years of experience as a public defender and defense attorney, service on the heroin drug task force and providing assistance to communities in understanding gun laws as a basis for his qualification as a district judge.</p><p>Webby, the father of four, said he has appreciated the opportunities the community has provided him and now wants to give back.</p><p>In his role as a defense attorney, Webby said his experience in the courtroom, and especially magisterial district court, would greatly benefit him as a district judge.</p><p>At 62, Webby is ready to give his full attention to his duties in dispensing justice should he win.</p><p>&#8220;If I was elected, it would be a full-time position and I would resign from my position as a public defender and close my private practice,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Legally, I wouldn&#8217;t have to, but it&#8217;s something that I would want to do.&#8221;</p><p>His motto is: &#8220;Experienced. Fair. Tough.&#8221;</p><p>Webby believes that, if elected, he would provide an even playing field, while standing up to the crime that puts families in danger.</p><p><strong>John Augustine</strong></p><p>Augustine, of Rice Township, cites his work as a businessman and community leader in seeking the position of district judge.</p><p>He now heads Penn&#8217;s Northeast, a marketing organization he describes as a &#8220;technology-based business that is committed to bringing jobs to the area.&#8221;</p><p>Prior to his position at Penn&#8217;s Northeast, Augustine served as the outreach manager for the Marcellus Shale Coalition and as the senior Economic Development director for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business &amp; Industry.</p><p>Augustine, a father of two, said he has been heavily involved in community.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been involved in the Kiwanis, the library, neighborhood watch,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve spent a lot of time being a part of positive activities in the Mountain Top area.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Historically district judges have not been lawyers,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The term &#8216;Justice of the Peace&#8217; says it all, meaning that a magistrate should have strong ties to those in the community and be capable of maintaining peace and justice between neighbors.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Brian Macko</strong></p><p>Macko, of Wright Township, said that as a 23-year veteran of the police department, he knows how to deal fairly with people, including young people.</p><p>Macko, a father of two who himself graduated from Crestwood High School, said his experience in the courtroom as a policeman fueled his aspirations to become a district judge.</p><p>He views his role as a police officer as one of service and wants to continue his service as a district judge in magisterial court, where he would be &#8220;tough but fair.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;I was one of the first DARE and school resource officers,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been a real presence in the community. I know how to deal with people, especially younger people.&#8221;</p><p>Macko believes he can be both just and fair should he be elected.</p><p>With Swank&#8217;s retirement, Macko believes that the time is right for him to assume the position.</p><p><strong>Thomas Szoke</strong></p><p>Szoke believes that as White Haven police chief for the past three years and over 20 years in law enforcement, he will serve the community well, should he win the seat of district judge.</p><p>Szoke, a father of three, said his commitment to community policing, while emphasizing communication with those served, would translate into both fairness and concern should he win the seat.</p><p>&#8220;Kids need to know the consequences,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But they need to know that they are fair consequences.&#8221;</p><p>Should he win, he said, the position would be a full-time one for him.</p><p>Szoke said that being a magistrate is about maintaining quality of life for area residents.</p><p>As chief, he said, not only did he effectuate justice, but also oversaw officers as they volunteered in the community, building trust with residents, especially young people.</p><p>He also pledges to be fair in civil matters.</p><p>&#8220;Being a magistrate isn&#8217;t only about criminal matters, but civil &#8212; for example, landlord-tenant conflicts,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Szoke said with the retirement of both Swank and the Freeland area&#8217;s district judge, Gerald Feissner, whose office was eliminated upon his retirement, he believes the timing was right for his own bid for a seat on the magisterial bench.</p><p>&#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t have run against either Swank or Feissner,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I did learn much from them, as I had opportunity to see them in action in their courtrooms.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Webby </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_webby-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Webby </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_augustine-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Augustine </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_augustine-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Augustine </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_macko-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Macko </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_macko-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Macko </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_photo-d2016112511254414-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Szoke </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_photo-d2016112511254414-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Szoke </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_law1-1.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Vacancy created as Ronald Swank steps down</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>THE CANDIDATES</strong></p><p>&#8226; Ferris Webby, 62, Slocum Township. Wife, Elaine. Children: Angel Mae, Ferris, Charbi Anne and Loriah Ann.</p><p>&#8226; John Augustine, 41, Rice Township. Wife: Kristine. Children: Jack and Jill.</p><p>&#8226; Thomas Szoke, 52, White Haven. Wife: Linda. Children: Nikita, Jessica and Shelby.</p><p>&#8226; Brian Macko, 47, Wright Township. Wife: Colleen. Children: Abbie and Colin.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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Four announce candidacies for district judge in the Mountain Top area