Moon attorney wins magistrate seat; PPS board turns over
Ex-prosecutor to take the bench
A 49-year-old former prosecutor with the state attorney general is set to take the next step in her legal career after she appeared to claim a western Allegheny County district judgeship.
Michelle Santicola fills a seat that serves Coraopolis, Crescent, Neville and Moon. Mary Murray, who rose to the state Superior Court last year, previously served in the seat for 14 years.
Ms. Santicola, a registered Democrat from Moon, led with 57% of the vote, with 13 of 25 precincts counted as of 10:30 p.m. She appeared poised to have defeated attorney Max
Feldman.
Neither could immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.
During her campaign, she touted her experience, which includes time as a hearing examiner for the Liquor Control Board.
Ms. Santicola also has experience serving as a member of the Moon Board of Supervisors and the Coraopolis Shade Tree Commission, as well as a volunteer with food banks.
That outcome Tuesday mirrored the results of the May primaries when Ms. Santicola tallied 1,754 votes to Mr. Feldman’s 1,538. Attorney Corrie Woods, who received 971 votes in that race, later endorsed Ms. Santicola.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board is poised for substantial turnover in the coming weeks, even if efforts to secure its four open seats were settled during the May primary.
Only one candidate cross-filed in that race, and he did not campaign in the general election.
The three newcomers include longtime community activist Pam Harbin (District 4); Devon Taliaferro (District 2); and Bill Gallagher (District 6).
Incumbent Kevin Carter ran unopposed in District 8.
The city of Pittsburgh is split into nine districts for board representation, with members elected to fouryear terms.
The members are set to be sworn in next month.