A Unity woman who has worked for the last decade as a criminal justice liaison with the county’s mental health agency announced this week she will run to fill a potentially vacant district justice seat.

Rebecca Salandro, 38, said she wants to serve as a judge on the local court that now is presided over by Unity District Judge Michael Mahady.

“I love this area and love being in the magistrate offices. I have a vested interest in keeping our community safe,” Salandro said.

Mahady, 73, has served as a district judge for more than four decades. His seventh six-year term is set to expire in January 2022. Westmoreland County Deputy Court Administrator Chris Haidze said Mahady will reach the state’s mandatory retirement age of 75 for judges in 2022 but has not indicated if he seek another term in office. Mahady could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Salandro said she expects Mahady will not run again.

Should he retire, “… I believe that my background and work experience would qualify me for this position,” Salandro said. “I will work hard to fill the void left by a well-respected judge who has filled this position for many years.”

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

She holds a master’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She works as a criminal justice liaison for Westmoreland Case Management and Support and assists clients in dealings with district court system.

Salandro is also a member of the county’s criminal justice advisory board.

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