Published: May 18, 2009 11:49 pm      

Primary spotlight on courts

Voters in Cambria and Somerset counties can expect sunny skies today when they go to the polls to cast their ballots, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather said Monday.

But, for those headed out before 9 a.m., “it’s going to be very cold. There will be a frost, and the temperature will be close to 30 degrees at daybreak,” Eric Wilhelm said.

Then the temperatures will climb throughout the day, reading close to 70 degrees

by this afternoon, Wilhelm said.

Although the weather may be favorable, a low turnout is expected for an “off-year” election in which thousands of local offices are up for grabs. Predictions range from a 20 percent turnout in Somerset County up to a possible 40 percent in Cambria County.

The biggest race in the area is in Cambria County, where six attorneys are vying for two open judgeships on the Court of Common Pleas.

All six candidates are Democrats but have cross-filed for both the Republican and Democratic nominations. Nearly $250,000 has been spent by the candidates in the hotly contested primary battle.

Depending on the outcome of the primary vote, the judgeships could be decided today if two of the contenders capture both the Democratic and Republican nominations.

Two of the judicial candidates – Johns-town lawyer Margaret O’Malley and Richland Township lawyer Linda Rovder Fleming – are hoping to become Cambria’s first woman judge.

Another contender, District Attorney Patrick Kiniry, could – if elected – follow in the footsteps of the county’s last four district attorneys who went on to become a judge – David Tulowitzki, Timothy Creany and Gerard Long, who remain on the bench, and Caram J. Abood, who resigned and returned to private law practice in 1991.

The other candidates are Ebensburg lawyers Gary Jubas, a part-time assistant district attorney; David Beyer, who has served as a court-appointed master for domestic relations hearings and Timothy Burns, a former judicial law clerk, all general practitioners in their own private law offices.

There also are lively races for two district judges seats. District Judge Galen Decort of Portage has two primary opponents

– Mary McCoy and Bob Kunko, both of Portage Township. District Judge Michael Zungali of Hastings is being challenged by Brian Gates of Chest Township.

In Somerset County, there are no primary races for countywide offices.

Election officials in both counties were busy Monday with last minute work preparing for today’s election.

In Somerset County, the elections supplies and equipment, including the voting units, were being distributed either to the precincts or, in some cases, with the judges of elections picking them up at the county office, Tina Pritts, supervisor, said. Somerset has 68 precincts.

In Cambria County, most of the supplies and equipment were delivered last week to the 165 precincts, Fred R. Smith, election supervisor, said. Among the last-minute chores Monday was the delivery of heaters to several precincts because of the anticipated chilly weather this morning, he said.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

First-time voters or voters casting their ballots in a different precinct may be asked for identification.