LEWISTOWN - Two candidates who managed to secure both the Republican and Democratic nominations for Magisterial District Judge spoke briefly Wednesday night during the Mifflin County Farm Bureau's Measure the Candidates event at Indian Valley High School.
Incumbent candidate Magisterial District Judge Tammy Hunter was the first of the two candidates to speak.
Hunter narrowly secured a victory over Carla Byler in the spring primary. Byler is running a write-in campaign for the November election in an effort to unseat Hunter. Byler was not present at the event and the farm bureau did not invite write-in candidates to speak.
Hunter is currently finishing her first term as magisterial district judge and serves Armagh, Brown, Menno and Union townships.
Hunter said she "deeply appreciates the support" of the voters who allowed her to secure the nominations of both parties.
"Now in my sixth year as a district judge, I feel I have proved that I make solid decisions and fair judgments," Hunter said.
Hunter said that since taking office, she has handled more 2,000 cases per year, ranging from traffic offenses to civil and criminal matters.
"I believe I am tough but fair to those who have committed crimes, and I am not afraid to remand people to jail if the situation warrants it," she said.
Hunter said a recent audit of her office by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has qualified her office as "exemplary."
"My office has been operating under budget since I took office in January 2004," Hunter said, as she reminded the audience of how important it is to vote on Nov. 3.
Local attorney Aaron Gingrich was the next magisterial district judge candidate to speak.
Gingrich sailed to an easy victory in the spring primary by defeating three other candidates. Gingrich is slated to replace retiring Magisterial District Judge Barbara Clare, who has served as the judge for Burnham Borough, the 6th and 7th wards of Lewistown Borough, and Decatur and Derry townships for 30 years.
Gingrich has an extensive legal background, including work with Houck and Gingrich Law Offices of Lewistown.
Gingrich also is well-known in Lewistown as the head boys basketball coach at Lewistown Area High School.
During Wednesday's event, Gingrich thanked the voters for the overwhelming support he received in the primary, and encouraged them to once again come out and vote in the November election.
"I was truly fortunate to secure both nominations," Gingrich said.
Gingrich said that as a magisterial district judge, he will make good decisions that are "fair and impartial."
Gingrich finished by saying he was excited and honored to serve as magisterial district judge.
