News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania • Page 8

AB Wednesday, Nov. 8,1995 News Record GOP to continue reign Incumbents re-elected to row By Gordon Ovenshine Sufl writer If you think incumbency doesn't matter, consider Butler County's row- office positions Every incumbent was re-elected by a landslide Tuesday, and all are Republicans Treasurer Joan Chew of Butler City beat Democrat Bill Helsel of Butler County chVw took 65 of the vote, Helsel 35 percent Chew. 65, is completing her third term as treasurer Incumbent Prothonotary Glenna Walters of Saxonburg won her third term, defeating Christina Ligas of Center Township. Walters, 42, won 64 percent of the vote, Ligas 36fcr- cent, The prothonotary keeps records on civil lawsuits and approves passports. Walters said she wants to continue modernizing the office by keeping better computer records on lawsuits.

Chew attributed the victory to maintaining a good rapport with voters. "Many of them know me from when they've needed help on a passport That's what I do late at night, work on passports," she said Michele Mustello, 31, won a second term as recorder of deeds, She Voters SAED HINDASH, staff photographer Incumbent Glenn Anderson, a Democrat raises a pile of early results Tuesday night He squeezed by to win the Butler County commissioner race by 3 percentage points. keeps track of real estate records and marriage licenses. Mustello beat Democrat James Murray, taking 65 percent of the vote compared with Murray's 35 percent, Republican Judy Moser was unopposed for a second term as clerk of courts, and Republican Tim McCune will become Butler County's first full- time district Attorney. McCune will be paid $90,000 a year.

Current District Attorney Sheryle Long chose not to seek a second term. Except for the district attorney, row offices pay $39,320 a year. Four- year terms begin Jan. 1. Ballot question keeps children out of courts The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA: Voters have settled an argument about whether the Pennsylvania Constitution puts children who take the witness stand in criminal cases at a disadvantage.

With 69 percent of the precincts reporting in unofficial results Tuesday, votes were running almost 3-1 in favor of a constitutional amendment that drops language guaranteeing criminal defendants the right to confront witnesses "face to face." The amendment substitutes language that has existed for more than two centuries with wording that guarantees the accused the right to be "confronted with the witnesses against him." Prosecutors contend the change is needed because young witnesses are sometimes too traumatized to face a defendant in court. But say thfanTeTfdrnenfwuT whittle away "The people would not tolerate all their rights going at once, but one at a time can fall and they won't recognize.it." Gerald Qrlmaud, attorney Wyoming County at crucial rights in place in Pennsylvania for 219 years. At least one of three court challenges to the amendment is still pending. Attorney Gerald Grimaud of Wyoming County, who filed one of the challenges, said the results indicate voters do not realize they are curtajling their own trial rights. The people would not tolerate all their rights going at once, but one at a time can fall and they won't recognize it" Grimaud said.

He intends to pursue his petition to invalidate the election results in Commonwealth Court The amendment will bring the state constitution into line with the U.S. Constitution and a 1990 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld a Maryland law allowing children to testify via closed-circuit television. The ballot question also asked whether the Legislature should be allowed to pass laws allowing children to testify via closed-circuit television or videotape. The two-step process is needed so the law can apply only to children, according to Sen.

Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, who led the effort to get the question on the ballot Greenleaf said he believes the amendment-will-take ately after completion of procedural with strong, bipartisan support steps that include certification of the election results. He plans to introduce a bill this week that will spell out the circumstances under which children may give testimony electronically. The case that spawned the proposed amendment was a 1991 state Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the 5-year-old victim had given testimony via closed-circuit television. Since that decision, other cases involving electronic testimony from children have either been dropped or thrown out of court, prosecutors have said. Constitutional amendments must pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before going on the ballot The amendment was approved in Newman, Nigro win Supreme Court seats Pa, high court The Associated Press 'PHILADELPHIA: Republican Sandra Schultz Newman became the first woman elected to Pennsylvaniai- Supreme Court, and Democrat Russell Nigro, a Philadelphia judge making a repeat bid, won the second spot in the election Tuesday.

Newman, elected just two years ago to Commonwealth Court, was the front-runner going in to the election. She was teamed with Michael Barrasse, the Lackawanna County district attorney who vowed to bnng a prosecutor's tough-minded perspective to a court that reviews death-penalty cases, manages the state's court system and selects other precedent-setting cases. Republicans were trying to duplicate their court sweep in the 1993 elections but came uprshorflrTthe Supreme Court race Democrats ran two Common Pleas judges from opposite ends of the state, Nigro and John Musman- no of the Pittsburgh area They shared working-class origins and a record of bringing efficiency to their courts Both ran for Supreme Court in 1993 44W Nigro Newman With 76 percent of precincts reporting in the unofficial count, Newman had 912,600, or 28 percent; Nigro, 820,078, or 25 percent; Barrasse, 758,686, or 23 percent; and Musmanno 758,595, or 23 percent Trie' cliuiui was between a lican team touted for its law-and- credentials and Democrats with about a quarter century's worth of judicial experience. Newman said there was no one factor contributing to her win. campaign wag ahnnt who believe our system of justice should be beyond the reach of politics and politicians," she said in a statement "I'm going to dedicate myself to making our courts the a envy of the land, open to the rights and concerns of its citizens," she said.

Nigro was not immediately available A message was left at his cam- fitr myself to making our courts the envy of land, open to the rights and concerns of its citizens. 0 Sandra Schultz Newman, ttate Supreme Court Judge paign headquarters. The seven-member court is the oldest in the nation but is better Tmowfi torthetorced fefnoval of one" of its members last year than for its legal prestige. As she did in the 1993 election, Newman relied on her husband, Julius, a plastic surgeon, for most of her campaign funds By the end of Oaulei, he leut hei rampalp close" representing teachers and state -employees, -Nigro couldn't match the record $1.5 million he spent in his bid for Supreme Court in 1993. But he roughly $900,000 nf tiU bring back as coroner By Geof Becker Staff writer PITTSBURGH: Voters Tuesday returned Dr Cyril Wecht of Pittsburgh to the office of Allegheny County coroner and, as a Democrat, his party's 2.4-to-l registration edge, to complete the two years left on Dr.

Josh Perper's term as coroner Perper, who lived in O'Hara, resigned to take a medical examiner's post in Florida. Wecht defeated Republican Sanford Edberg of ffilbuck, a forensic pathologist at Suburban General Hospital, Bellevue. Before the election, Edberg all but conceded defeat in deference to registration and Wecht's well-known name. Wecht has consulted on cases ranging from John F. Kennedy's assassination to the recent death of Jonny Gammage, the cousin of Pittsburgh Steelers player Ray Seals.

Gammage died last month after a traffic stop in Brentwood. Wecht a former county coroner and Allegheny County commissioner, said he plans to run for a full four-year term. Wecht also said he would support legislation to switch the coroner's post irom an elected to appointed position. But Wecht said he wouldn't lobby actively for the change Democrats also swept the county's row offices. Row offices are established by the state constitution.

The offices keep court-related records, except who is the county's chief financial officer, the treasurer, who collects taxes, and the recorder of deeds, who keeps records on property ownership. The clerk of courts will be the only new face in the row offices Joyce Lee Itkin, a publicist from Pittsburgh, and wife of state House leader Ivan Itkin, who defeated incumbent Carole Coyne in the primary, beat Republican Robin Thomas, a production manager from Mt Lebanon Bob Colville of Ben Avon won easy re-election to district attorney, defeating Republican Kerry Alan Fraas, an attorney from Eliz- "abefhT For treasurer, incumbent Mary Alice McDonough of Swissvale defeated Republican James M. McDonough, an accountant from Plum. Democrat Frank Lucchino of Pittsburgh had no opponent in his re-election to county controller. For register of wills, incumbent Jay Costa Jr.

of Forest Hills defeated Republican Andrew J. Boskin a student from Duquesne, inifnjynf Mitihflfil Pittsburgh won re-election to pro- thonotary, defeating Republican David K. McMullin, an attorney from Mt. Lebanon. For recorder of deeds, incumbent Michael A.

Delia Vecchia defeated Republican Raymond Kushner, a cashier from McKees Rocks. In judicial elections, Donald Machen of Pittsburgh, handily won election to Allegheny County's Court of Common Pleas. Machen, who had been Pittsburgh's chief magistrate, was sworn in Monday as a county judge. He was appointed to fill a vacancy left when Richard Zeleznik retired. He will have a full 10-year term.

Republican Timothy O'Reilly defeated Democrat Lester Nauhaus of Pittsburgh for the other open county judge's post. O'Reilly, who won the Republican primary nomination, will be sworn in to a 10-year term in January. Nauhaus collapsed Tuesday night at the Sheraton Station Square as unofficial returns were coming in. His campaign manager, Nick Boflessc, Nauhaus hadn't eaten all day and collapsed from exhaustion. Nauhaus recovered fter getting a bite to eat, Boneso said.

All of the sitting county judged up for retention won another 10 years on the bench. Winning retention were: Robert Dauer, currently president judge, of Pittsburgh; David S. Cercone, administrative judge, of McKees Rocks; Judith L.A. Friedman of Pittsburgh; Joseph A. Jaffe of Pittsburgh; Livingstone M.

Johnson of O'Hara, Robert A. Kelly of Upper St Clair, Walter -Little of Pettir-HrrrsrDomra Jrr McDaniel of Coraopolis; Patrick McFalls of Pittsburgh, Bernard J. McGowan of McKeesport; James R. McGregor of Swissvale; and James McLean of Mt. Lebanon.

money to put his message on television. He promised a common-sense, honest-approach 1 Re-offered himself, as a catalyst who would restore collegiality and productivity whose seven members barely talk to one another. Musmanno was the lone western Pennsylvania candidate. With the region's proclivity fpr supporting hometown candidates, Musmanno had an instant advantage. He, too, Despite lawsuit, Eakin wiMSuperidrTourt seat The Associated Presr-- PHILADELPHIA: Cumberland County District Attorney Michael Eakin won a seat on Pennsylvania's Superior Court on Tuesday, overcoming criticism of his lawsuit to get a 810,000 pay raise Eakin, a Republican, defeated Pittsburgh attorney Jon Pushinsky, ed his record as Cumberland County's district attorney, while Pushinsky highlighted his practice of fighting for the disabled.

But after a quiet opening, the race turned mean in the closing weeks Pushinsky, 41, attacked Eakirtfor suing Cumberland County to get a $10 000 pay raise He described the prosecutor as a career politician who Court i ran or Supreme lost to Nigro in a primary crowded with western Pennsylvania candidates. This time, the Republican State Committee focused a potentially astating radio ad on him in his home to $800,000, about what he had lent and wrote off in 1993, The money put Newman on television and radio statewide. She talked about her experience in family law and as an'assistant district attorney in Montgomery County. She said her sensitivity to working people helped her win endorsements from the AFL- CIO executive council and unions area, trying to paint him as a tainted candidate who would bring more scandal, not salvation to the Supreme Court In 1994, Justice Rolf Larsen was impeached and removed from office for wrongdoing. He had accused two other justices of improper activities as well, although his allegations were discounted by state lawmakers and investigators.

member court the last stop for most civil and criminal appeals With 88 percent of the precincts reporting in unofficial returns, Eakin had 963,231 votes, or 53 percent to Pushinsky's 868,462, or 47 percent. All three sitting Superior Court judges seeking retention, won new 10-year terms. The judges John Kelly, 64, of Philadelphia, Zoran Popovich, 64, of Lewisburg and Justin Johnson, 62, of Pittsburgh -faced only yes-no votes, without opponents. The yes votes for all three were about 2-to-l. During the campaign, Eakin tout- Eakin said Tuesday night that the voters saw through the smokescreen.

"I don't think the were fooled by it" said Eakin, who credited much of his victory to a strong showing in Allegheny County, which should have been considered Pushinsky's" territory "It was unfortunate It was personal It was misleading" Pushinsky blamed his loss on negative campaigning "I think that what happened was the Republicans threw everything to the wind and went very negative on the Democrats all around," he said "Perhaps it' 1 not time for me to be a judge. are still a couple of causes to fight for" Flaherty says goodnight Graci for Commonwealth seat The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA: Democrat -James- Flaherty, wrtostressed rrH- extensive government background, beat Republican Robert Graci, a top deputy attorney general, for a seat on Commonwealth Court Tuesday With 78 percent of precincts reporting in the unofficial count, Flaherty had or 51 percent and Graci had 798. or 49 percent a a appeah involving government agcn- compensation anri jobless The judges are paid $116,000 annually "I would really attribute a victory trrgreat parttrjthrtretnendous' showing in the Philadelphia area," said Flaherty, who lives irv Pittsburgh. "And also there are interesting inroads that I made against the wave in some Republican areas Flaherty sad he was worried that a low turnout in Allegheny County and trouble with the county commissioners' race might have his chances He had been exDecLed. i experience as a commissioner and because his family name is well known in political circles Graci, 43, of Camp Hill in Cumber- Been a state deputy attorney general since 1984 He refused to concede Flaherty, 64, pointed to his civil experience representing various governmental bodies He also served four yrar; as chairman of the Allegheny commissioners board The only contention in the other agr Graci noled his oppo- iot his 10-year term and questioned his commitment to public service But Flaherty countered he would be able to make fair decisions because he cannot run for a second term.

He was able to do the same thing as a one-term Allegheny County commissioner from 1976 to 1980, he said He said Tiis opponent's career track in prosecutorial cases meant he lacked the experience necessary to review the types of cases that Court Flaherty's career has included stints as a-school district solicitor, a municipal labor lawyer and a trial lawyer He also served 15 years as a bond counsel Flaherty also has said his family's political ties should give him a boost with voters in western Pennsylvania. His brother, Pete, is the former mayor of Pittsburgh diid a Allegheny County commissioner. Graci. meanwhile, pointed to his experience arguing criminal cases before the Superior Court "A lot of people fail lo rt a i ters To say the court has no criminal jurisdiction is absolutely wrong My -of -sormrme -wrifr understands the law and upholds the constitution," Graci said earlier He was appointed 1989 to serve on the Task Force on Death Penalty Litigation in Pennsylvania He also was appom'id in 1490 by the Supreme our! to the Lnmmal Procedural Ruies Committpe whu.h proposes i ujcs to thf (. ou-t for the on diu I i i id! pr rri ags jurisdiction ove i ronmentaJ laws drug lorn nure mat proM i uteri Si pin mi Lour 1 justice RfiJ.