No countywide offices saw contested races in Tuesday’s general election, but there was still one question to be settled.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Katie Oliver appeared poised to win retention for another 10-year term. As of 10:53 p.m., 27,529, or about 65%, of ballots voted yes for Oliver’s retention, with 14,893 voting no.
As with the more high-profile state court judges, county common pleas judges in Pennsylvania run in partisan elections for initial 10-year terms. After that initial term they do not run for reelection against an opponent, but rather voters are asked whether they should be retained for another 10 years.
Oliver was initially elected in 2015, when she ran as a Democrat. She previously was a partner at McQuaide Blasko in State College and had decades of experience as a civil litigator and trial attorney.
As one of four Centre County Court of Common Pleas judges, Oliver presides over all types of criminal, civil and family cases that come before the court. She has also been an advocate for Centre County’s treatment courts, serving as the presiding judge in the DUI Court and the Behavioral Health Court, of which she was a founding member.
Three magisterial district judges, meanwhile, ran unopposed for reelection to new six-year terms.
Kelley Gillette-Walker won a third term for District 49-3-02 (Bellefonte, Howard, Milesburg and Unionville boroughs and Benner, Boggs, Curtin, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Spring (partial), Union and Walker townships.
Steven Lachman won a third term in District 49-3-05 (State College Borough voting districts East 1, East Central 1, North, Northeast, Northwest, South 1, West 1, West 2 and West Central 1)
Don Hahn was elected to a second term for District 49-1-01 (State College Borough voting districts East 2, East 3, and East 4, East Central 2 & 3, South 2, South Central 1 & 2, Southeast,and West Central 2).
Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna ran unopposed and won election to a third term as the county’s top prosecutor.
Republican Hope Miller and Democrat Shelley Thompson will return to their positions as jury commissioners. Miller was elected to a fifth term and Thompson to a second.
