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E-mailScherer, Bononi win Westmoreland judgeships
Westmoreland County voters on Tuesday elected Democrat Chris Scherer and Republican Michele Bononi to 10-year terms on the Court of Common Pleas.
Democrat Meagan Bilik DeFazio finished third in her first attempt to win public office, according to unofficial results.
Republicans will maintain one seat on the county bench. Retiring Judges William J. Ober and Daniel Ackerman are both Republicans.
With all 306 precincts reporting, Scherer had 42 percent of the vote; Bononi, 30 percent; and Bilik DeFazio, 28 percent. All results are unofficial until verified by the Elections Bureau.
The three-term sheriff celebrated at an election party in Mt. Pleasant last night.
Scherer, 45, of Lower Burrell previously worked as an assistant district attorney in the county and in private practice with several Pittsburgh law firms. He is a graduate of University of California Hastings College of Law.
"I want to let the voters and citizens of Westmoreland County know they put a lot of trust in me, and that trust in me is justified," he said.
Scherer, 45, of Lower Burrell previously worked as an assistant district attorney in the county and in private practice with several Pittsburgh law firms. He is a graduate of University of California Hastings College of Law.
In May, Scherer won nominations in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.
Bononi, 49, of Unity listed 24 years of experience on her resume, including her current job as a domestic relations hearing officer. She had twice before run unsuccessfully for judge.
"I've been through this twice before and I just kept trying," said an emotional Bononi, fighting through tears as she talked about her apparent victory while monitoring election returns at her Greensburg office. "I just want to thank everyone."
Bilik DeFazio, 34, of North Huntingdon has been a lawyer for 10 years, including five years as an assistant with the county Public Defender's Office. She currently works in private practice with the law firm of Loughran, Mlakar & Bilik in Greensburg and holds a law degree from Duquesne University.
All three candidates spent freely during the campaign, listing combined expenses for the spring's primary of more than $350,000. In the waning days of the fall campaign, each candidate ran television commercials and paid for frequent mailings and other advertisements.
With Scherer's election to the bench, his replacement as sheriff will be up to Gov. Ed Rendell.
Judges Al Bell and Tony Marsili easily won retention for 10-year terms.
