Westmoreland County judges win retention

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

Westmoreland County voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly returned three local judges to the Common Pleas Court bench.

With all 306 precincts reporting, incumbent judges Tim Krieger, Scott Mears and Harry Smail Jr. won new 10-year terms.

Krieger’s retention was supported by 65% of voters, Mears’ by 66% and Smail’s by 66%. All results are unofficial until certified by the county election board.

Krieger, 64, of Delmont, served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, worked as an attorney and spent six years as a state representative before he was elected judge a decade ago. He served two years presiding over family court cases before moving to criminal cases. Since 2019, Krieger has presided over the county’s veterans court.

Smail, 59, of Greensburg, was appointed to serve as a judge in 2014, following the retirement of former President Judge John Blahovec. He was elected the following year to a full 10-year term, has served in family court and presides over civil court cases.

Smail previously worked as a county probation officer and attended law school at night before becoming an attorney who handled both civil and criminal cases.

Mears, 55, of Unity, has spent the past six years hearing criminal court cases after transferring from the county’s family court. In 2023, he took over as one of two judges who preside over the county’s drug court program. Mears previously worked as an attorney focusing on civil litigation.

A survey of lawyers in the Westmoreland County Bar Association supported retention of all three judges.

Meanwhile, District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, Clerk of Courts Megan Loughner, Prothonotary Gina O’Barto — all Republicans — were unopposed and won new four-year terms. Katie Pecarchik, a Republican from Hempfield, was unopposed in her bid to become the new register of wills. John Ackerman, a Republican, won a four-year seat as coroner. Ackerman was unopposed this fall after defeating first-term incumbent Tim Carson in the spring GOP primary.

Common Pleas Judge Matt Schimizzi was unopposed in his bid for a full 10-year term on the county bench. Schimizzi was appointed to the post last winter following the retirement of Judge Rita Hathaway.