Trending
To The Editor:
I'm writing this letter on behalf of Jerry Wagner as both a colleague and a friend.
Over the last 16+ years as a Criminal Defense Attorney, I have appeared in more than 20 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including and now exclusively Mifflin County. During that time, I have handled all types of criminal cases ranging from DUI to homicide at all court levels and, as a result, obtained a broad array of personal and professional experiences with all the court players. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly.
Attorney Jerry Wagner is among the best in terms of the dedication, preparation, knowledge, communication, professionalism, compassion, passion and zeal with which he does his job. In my experience with him as an Assistant District Attorney, Jerry has been a relentless advocate for the people he represents: the victims, the police and the community.
But, while doing so, Attorney Wagner has not lost the common sense necessary to meaningfully fulfill his responsibilities in that position or as a Judge. As such, he has consistently been able to maintain an open-mind, listen to opposing arguments and make an independent decision based upon the facts and the law presented on a case-by-case basis, which is exactly what a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas is required to do.
Moreover, the practical experience he has obtained in the courtroom, including the extensive preparation required in writing briefs and presenting oral arguments before the Superior and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in order to secure a 23-0 winning record on appeals from trial litigation, are the skills essential to being an effective and efficient Court of Common Pleas Judge.
Also, importantly, the end result is never about Jerry, his personal beliefs outside of the courtroom, or his ego; instead, it's always about making a fair, just decision and doing the right thing for the right reason, based upon the facts and the law. That's exactly what a Judge is expected to do.
Separate from our professional relationship, Jerry is a friend. I have sat across the dinner table from him and his wife of 29 years, Judy, having both serious and not-so serious conversations. They are a team and champion one another in their individual pursuits, as well as husband and wife as parents to their 5 children, who are awesome, young adults. I have worked side-by-side with both him and his family volunteering on Thanksgiving morning to prepare meals for those without food for their table or family to share it with. Jerry is a devoted husband and father who walks the walk rather than talks the talk. He gets in the trenches and puts in the work to foster positive growth in himself, his family, his friends and his community.
Due to our personal friendship, I have also spent some time at the "tire shop," Fay L. Wagner, Inc, a tire retreading business in Yeagertown. In that time, I have observed the sincere, fair and efficient service he provides to his customers, as well as the kind, respectful and loyal manner in which he maintains a relationship with his employees.
For the last 32 years of his life, Jerry has rebuilt a 70-year family business at Fay L. Wagner Tire. As such it is a critical part of him, his family and his blue-collar work ethic.
Jerry didn't need to become a District Attorney. He did it to fill a staffing void and utilized it as an opportunity to further pursue his passion for law while serving and protecting the community. Similarly, Jerry doesn't need to be Judge. Instead, he is running for Judge in order to meaningfully utilize a life-time of experience and proven results while advancing his passion for law and serving the community. And, if elected, he has an exit plan already in place to walk away from the long-standing family retreading business to be your full-time Judge.
Finally, as I've done here, the word "passion" gets thrown around quite a bit on the campaign trail. To me, the best way to assess personal motivations and the sincerity of that passion is to look at the body of a person's life work. It can be a guide in separating substance over form, quality over quantity, and the results over experience.
Jerry's passion is aligned with his core purpose, a purpose that is reflected by a lifetime of experience backed by proven results as a local business owner, a husband and father and District Attorney: Service to others. Service to employees and customers. Service to family. Service to victims, witnesses, police and the community by administrating fair and just results under the law.
Jerry Wagner is now asking for the opportunity to serve you as Judge of the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas.
Shawn Curry