Race narrows for district judge as votes are tallied
With 58 percent of votes tallied in the race for the nomination for magisterial district judge in the Belle Vernon and Dunbar Township areas, Magisterial District Judge Jesse Cramer has pulled ahead of Soni Shaner Mancuso on the Democratic ticket, but still trails candidate Richard A. Kasunic II.
Cramer trails Shaner Mancuso and Kasunic on the Republican ticket, but has also closed the gap in that race, with just three votes separating Cramer and Kasunic. Candidates George Stash III and Kennth Jaynes round out the ballot.
The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that Cramer’s district will be consolidated with the neighboring district of Magisterial District Judge Dwight K. Shaner, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 before the end of this year. Shaner has announced he will retire and not seek re-election.
All candidates cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican tickets.