Allison Thiel wants to continue in her mother’s footsteps.

Thiel, 38, of Ligonier Township, announced she will run for the soon-to-be vacant district judge’s seat, replacing her mother, Denise Snyder Thiel, who will retire at the end of the year after serving more than three decades in office.

Allison Thiel is a graduate of Ligonier Valley School District, Penn State University and Widener University School of Law.

She works as an attorney with David K. Lucas & Associates in Greensburg and practices family, criminal, juvenile and civil law. She previously served as law clerk for Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas Judge John J. Driscoll.

“Our citizens depend on the judge to listen to the facts and rule on them fairly, to have integrity, to treat people with respect, and to carry out judicial duties competently and efficiently,” Thiel said.

She is a registered Republican, but said she will cross-file and run in both the GOP and Democratic primaries this spring.

Thiel joins Ligonier police officer Shawn Knepper, who earlier this month announced his candidacy for the post.

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