Tidd Has Challenger is Hellertown District Judge Race

Magisterial District Judge David Tidd has an opponent in his race for re-election to the Magiesterial District covering Hellertown and lower Saucon Township. He's being opposed by Amanda Kurecian, another attorney, who lives in Lower Sauson. Below is her announcement.

Amanda Kurecian, Esq. is announcing her candidacy for Magisterial District Judge 03-2-04, which covers Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township.

Ms. Kurecian has a family law practice in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has been a resident of the Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township district since 1989. Ms. Kurecian attended St. Theresa's Elementary School, Bethlehem Catholic High School, and Lehigh University before completing her education at Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

Ms. Kurecian is running for district judge because she has a strong desire to serve the Saucon Valley community. She wants the voters to know that she is qualified, capable, and trustworthy.

Ms. Kurecian is a a Republican, but plans to cross-file.

At Becahi, Amanda was named female athlete of the year, yet still graduated in the top 5%.

When I graduated from Beca, I was very nearly named top female athlete myself.

Why Not Wind Gap?

When the magisterial realignment was first being considered, why wasn't Wind Gap on the chopping block? That's a question posed by some of my readers. When District Judge Adrianne Masut retired in late 2011, her District could have been abolished. But guess what? Nobody really knew she was stepping down, except a few that she wanted to know. When a District Judge retires, he or she sometimes has someone lined up to take over. Retirement news will be kept under wraps so that the favorite can make inroads and be a few steps ahead of the others.

District Judges Hawke and Marakovits Will Serve Full Term

Though the magisterial alignment adopted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consolidate the two magisterial districts served by District Judges Diane Marakovits and Robert Hawke, both judges will be allowed to serve their full terms. I was under the impression that the consolidation would force a run-off, but that is inaccurate.

Not All DJs Voted in Magisterial Realignmnet

I told you Monday that the Northampton County Magisterial District Judges Association voted by a bare majority, 8-7, to endorse a proposed plan that abolishes the Bethlehem Township Magisterial District. I was informed that all district judges, or their proxies, voted. That is inaccurate.

I learned yesterday that, though the vote was by bare majority and secret ballot, not all District Judges participated or even designated proxies. I am also informed that some Senior District Judges, who still belong to the judge club, voted.

A Possible Solution to District Judge Crisis

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court has approved a magisterial realignment that consolidates two districts in the northwestern tier of Northampton County. But it will force two sitting District Judges - Diane Marakovits and Robert Hawke - to square off in a run-off election. District Judges have proposed an alternative plan. This one eliminates the seat held by District Judge Joseph Barner, who plans to retire. But it greatly inconveniences Bethlehem Township, Colonial Regional and Upper Nazareth police. President Judge Stephen Baratta has suggested it is a gerrymander. But there's a possible solution in the works.

Diane Marakovits, who presides over one of the districts being consolidated, could simply move into Barner's district when he retires and assume his duties by temporary assignment while she establishes the residency required. Several sources close to District Judges report that Marakovits is considering that option, though she has not been contacted at this point. I will try to do so today.  

District Judge Taschner Resigns as President of Judges' Ass'n

District Judge Jackie Taschner has stepped down as President of the Northampton County Magisterial District Judges Association. She cites family obligations. Her District includes Tatamy as well as Palmer and ForksTownship.

Her decision comes after the Association voted, on August 20, to submit a new, controversial, redistricting proposal to the Supreme Court. Under a plan already approved by the Supreme Court, two magisterial districts in the northwestern corner of the County will be consolidated. This will force a run-off election between District Judges Diane Marakovits and Robert Hawke. Under the plan proposed by District Judges, Joseph Barner's seat in Bethlehem Township will instead be eliminated. Barner intends to retire, so a run-off election would be unnecessary.

Though the District Judge Plan avoids an election contest, it has been criticized by police chiefs, Hanover Township and State Senator Lisa Boscola as an exaltation of political considerations over the best interests of the public. President Judge Stephen Baratta told the Supreme Court it comes at "the expense of convenience, rationality and gerrymandering."

Judge Taschner also confirmed that the redistricting plan approved on August 20 was done by secret ballot. All fifteen District Judges either appeared personally or by proxy. Their new redistricting plan passed by a bare majority, 8-7.

Judge Taschner's duties will be assumed by District Judge Diane Marakovits, who currently serves as Vice President.

A Tale of Two Magisterial Re-Alignment Plans

On Friday, I told you about a plan by Northampton County's fifteen District Judges that tinkers with one already approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. A realignment approved in June will consolidate two magisterial districts in the northwestern corner of the County, forcing incumbent District Judges Diane Marakovits and Robert Hawke to face each other in an election. In an effort to avoid an election, Hawke came up with an alternative plan that keeps keeps the northwestern districts intact, but eliminates the Bethlehem Township District over which Joseph Barner presides. Since he plans to retire, his district can be split up without forcing incumbents to face each other in an election. A majority of District Judges have sided with Hawke, but the local police chiefs affected are outraged, as evidenced by these excerpts of letters they sent to president Judge Stephen Baratta:

The Approved Plan: In response to a directive to eliminate one Magisterial District, then President Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden established a committee. It included the Deputy Court Administrator who acts as liaison with District Judges; Judge Michael Koury, a District Judge himself for twelve years; Judge Craig Dally, a former State Representative with significant experience related to redistricting; and the late District Judge Gay Elwell, who served at the request of other District Judges.

Their goal was to provide a fair allocation of the workload among the different offices, while simultaneously providing citizens and police officers with rational and convenient boundary lines.

Their decision to consolidate two, contiguous districts in the northwestern corner of the County was recommended unanimously, approved by the judges, subjected to public scrutiny and then forwarded to the Supreme Court.

The District Judge Plan: A District Judge approached Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ron Castille and asked if an alternative plan could be submitted that would avoid an election contest between the two District Judges whose districts were being consolidated. He agreed.

On August 20, the Northampton County Magisterial District Judges Association convened and approved an alternative plan that eliminates the District covering Bethlehem Township. The vote was a bare majority, 8 to 7. It was not approved by the judges. There was no public scrutiny, and a police chief was denied input.

It avoids an election between two incumbent District Justices by abolishing the Magisterial District for Bethlehem Township.

Local Officials Condemn District Judge Gerrymander

Hanover Tp Manager Jay Finnigan

Northampton County's Magisterial District Judges Association have proposed an alternative to one already approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in June. The plan already approved consolidates two districts in the northwestern corner of the County, which will force two incumbent District Judges to face each other in an election contest. The alternative proposed by District Judges keeps those districts intact, and instead abolishes Joseph Barner's district, which serves Bethlehem Township. Because Barner plans to retire, this is the most convenient solution for District Judges. But according to Hanover Township Manager Jay Finnigan and State Senator Lisa Boscola, some judges are trying to save their jobs at they expense of the public they serve. They have both spoken against the proposed redistricting in letters to president Judge Stephen Baratta.

Hanover Tp Manager Jay Finnigan: "In the political world this would be labeled gerrymandering. The proposed alignment attempts to establish an advantage for a group (two DJs) by manipulating the boundaries in order to avoid the elimination of one District magistrate in Northampton County in 2016.

"The proposal is a disservice to the residents and businesses of Hanover Township, the code enforcement officials of the Township and the Colonial Regional Police. Requiring the Colonial Regional Police to process paperwork and prosecute offenses for Hanover in the Borough if Northampton increases expenses (fuel and wear and tear on vehicles), delays the processing of warrants, and increases the amount of time an officer is out of service while attending a hearing. Combining all these factors, police protection decreases in the Township and puts public health, safety and welfare at a greater risk."

State Senator Lisa Boscola: "As a Senator and resident of Bethlehem Township, it is my belief that the elimination of [District Judge Barner's District] would have a negative impact on law enforcement and the public safety for the residents of Bethlehem Township. It would require Bethlehem Township police officers to travel seven or eleven miles if the Township is split under the new proposal."