By CHRISTINE HAINES
Three candidates were running for the two open seats for Common Pleas Judge in Westmoreland County, with the newly-elected candidates most likely being assigned to family court once seated.
Seeking the seats on the bench in Tuesday’s election were Mike Stewart of Hempfield Township, Jessica Rafferty of Unity Township and Justin Walsh of Rostraver Township.
As early results were coming in, Stewart took an early and commanding lead, with the remaining two candidates battling with just a few percentage points between them as the count went on. Unofficial results from the Westmoreland County Election Bureau showed Stewart in the first position with 55,225 votes, followed by Walsh with 43,742 and Rafferty in third place with 39,598 votes, making Stewart and Walsh the apparent winners, according to unofficial Westmoreland County Election Bureau results.
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