Loughner sworn in as acting Westmoreland Clerk of Courts

Westmoreland County has a new Clerk of Courts.

Megan Loughner, 35, of Unity was sworn in to office Friday to take over the final 10 months of the clerk’s term, replacing Bryan Kline. He was hired last month as the new warden of Westmoreland County Prison.

The office oversees all criminal court records and documents filed at the county courthouse.

Loughner, a Republican, has worked as a top administrator for Kline since he first took office in 2010, first as the office’s fiscal manager and for the last five years as chief deputy.

“There are no changes planned,” Loughner said. “We’ll continue Bryan’s successful collection programs and we will launch an e-filing program in mid-summer.”

She said the staff will remain in their current positions and does not expect to immediately appoint a new chief deputy.

With husband, Nick, 20-month-old son, Owen, parents Don and Kathy Zakraysek and Kline watching, Loughner was sworn in to office by Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway.

Loughner announced last month she will seek the Republican nomination in the May 18 election seeking a full four-year term as Clerk of Courts.

Republican Dorey Stabile McCarron, a 46-year-old U.S. Army veteran from North Huntingdon, also said she will run for the job this spring.

Kline, 40, of Penn Township, resigned as the Clerk of Courts at the close of business Friday. County Prison Board members hired Kline last month as the new jail warden, a job he will officially begin on Monday.