web1_StartingBlocks.jpg

Holy Redeemer, Lukas Volpetti big track winners at Cross Invitational

Pet Week 2017

<p>Candidates with varied experience are in the race for the seat held by outgoing District Judge John E. Hasay in District 11-3-01 in Shickshinny.</p><p>The six people running in the May 16 primary range from a former district attorney to a bank branch manager. Five of them have cross-filed for the office Hasay was elected to in 1987. The term is six years. The office pays $89,438 annually and covers Conyngham, Fairmount, Hollenback, Hunlock, Huntington, Nescopeck, Ross, Salem and Union townships and Nescopeck, New Columbus and Shickshinny boroughs.</p><p>Meet the candidates.</p><p><strong>&#8226; Matt Christopher</strong>, 44, Shickshinny, cross-filed. Christopher has been the branch manager of PNC Bank in Mocanaqua for more than 10 years. He is active in local community service organizations such as the Shickshinny Historical Society, The American Red Cross community and the Sylvania Masonic Lodge No. 354. He said he is running for the office because it provides the opportunity to do more good in the community. &#8220;As magistrate I will make sure everyone who appears before me gets an opportunity to truly be heard and gets a fair, honest, unbiased judgment,&#8221; he said.</p><p><strong>&#8226; Carol A. Davenport</strong>, 48, Salem Township, Republican, cross-filed: Davenport has worked in law enforcement for 22 years as a police office, narcotics agent and school resource office and said her background makes her the most qualified candidate for the job. &#8220;I have had real life, on the job training and lessons learned from working side by side with magisterial district judges, law enforcement officers, the District Attorney&#8217;s Office as well as defense attorneys. I have experienced all sides and every aspect of what goes on inside a courtroom,&#8221; Davenport said.</p><p><strong>&#8226; Bob DeMott</strong>, 71, Hunlock Creek, Republican. DeMott is a state constable and runs the Dynamic Force Institute that teaches firearm safety and skills through local gun shops. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been around the block a few times,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That has garnered me one very important attribute for one who is going to sit as a judge and that is wisdom.&#8221; DeMott said he has no interest in making a career out of the office and would serve just one term.</p><p><strong>&#8226; John McDanel</strong>, 54, Nescopeck, Republican, cross-filed. McDanel, a former Columbia County District Attorney, has a private law practice in Berwick. He also coached football and girls softball at Northwest Area High School. &#8220;I have 30 years of legal experience and appeared before over 50 magistrates in over 40 counties,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Everything that&#8217;s come up before a magistrate I&#8217;ve done already.&#8221; If elected he would be a full-time district justice, he said.</p><p><strong>&#8226; Francene Tearpock-Martini</strong>, Shickshinny, cross-filed. Tearpock-Martini, a lifelong resident of the district, established her own business as a rehabilitation counselor. She worked as an expert for 30 years in federal, state and local court proceedings. She also served on Shickshinny council and the Shickshinny Sanitary Board. &#8220;I am not a politician and take my work seriously. I would be firm, fair and friendly as magistrate judge,&#8221; she said.</p><p><strong>&#8226; Randy Tomasacci</strong>, 54, Huntington Township, Republican, cross-filed. Tomasacci has served on the Northwest Area School Board for 16 years, half of them as president. He has been a self-employed business owner for 30 years and with his wife Karen owns Nature&#8217;s Kanvas art store in Shickshinny. Tomasacci said his experience sets him apart from the other candidates. &#8220;I&#8217;m my own man, separate from existing establishments and beholden to no one. I will be fair and neutral in all decisions,&#8221; he said. If elected, he would step away from his business and only see to the duties of the office, he said.</p><p><ins>For more local election stories, click <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/tag/polcov" target="_blank">here</a>.</ins></p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_election-boxlogo.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_election-boxlogo.jpeg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Six candidates running for DJ seat in Shickshinny