Letter to the editor: Petrush has professionalism needed to be judge

Nearly 25 years ago, I crossed party lines to vote for Charley Conway as magisterial district judge in District Court 10-3-02 because his character, community involvement, and practice and knowledge of the law made him the best candidate.

Our community now has the responsibility to choose a new district judge on Nov. 7.

Candidate Judi Petrush is a professional who embodies the characteristics we want in our judges. She graduated in the top 10% of her class at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1993. Since 1995, she has been a prosecutor in the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. As a senior district attorney, she focuses her efforts on cases involving homicide, abuse and endangerment of children.

Beyond responsibilities associated with the law, the judge needs to comply with county and state rules regarding finances and personnel responsibilities of the district court, including staffing, fines, fees and settlements. The court is essentially a business to be professionally managed. Petrush has been a board member and president of the Westmoreland County Bar Association and as such was responsible for managing its budget. She can be counted on to carry on the businesslike professionalism of Conway.

Petrush has received endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police lodges representing both local and state police, indicating their regard for her character.

I will once again be crossing party lines to vote for Judi Petrush, a Republican running on the Democratic ballot. She has earned my vote as the candidate who I believe will continue the professionalism of our district court.

John Keyes

Murrysville