Dave Kovach

CRANBERRY TWP — Cranberry Township Police Sgt. Dave Kovach defeated four challengers to take both the Republican and Democratic nominations for the district judge post.

The five candidates had vied for the district judge office that covers Cranberry Township and Seven Fields.

Kovach, 55, received 819 Republican and 376 Democratic votes to take both nominations.

In the Republican primary, attorney Juliet Abel received 614 votes, followed by attorney Kelley Morrone with 572, Teri Lynn Michaels with 179 and attorney Tom Campbell with 92.

In the Democratic primary, Abel received 309 votes, Morrone 265, Michaels 78 and Campbell 27.

All of the candidates are residents of Cranberry Township.

The district judge bench was previously held by current Butler County Court Judge Kelley Streib, who resigned her post when she was elected to the county court.

For the past 16 months, the bench has been filled by several rotating senior district judges.

Kovach thanked all his supporters from Cranberry Township and Seven Fields Tuesday night.

"The citizens believed in the campaign that I ran," said Kovach. "I ran an honest and straight-forward campaign. The residents of Cranberry and Seven Fields believed in what I stand for."

He added the people were looking for a candidate that is involved in the community and who would treat them fair.

"For the past 32 years, they have known me as a police officer that treated people fair," he said.

This is the second time Kovach had run for the post. He was defeated by Streib in his first attempt.

Kovach said that experience made him work even harder going door-to-door in the two communities and knocking on more than 4,000 doors.

He believed going door-to-door and talking to people individually was crucial to his victories.

Kovach said all of his opponents were worthy candidates and all of them conducted themselves professionally during their campaigns.

"I was very fortunate that people got my message of honesty, integrity and fairness," he said.

Kovach believed the two of the most important issues facing the district judge position of Cranberry Township and Seven Fields are the protection of victims' rights and the curtailment of drugs in our communities.

"I have seen firsthand how crime affects victims," said Kovach. "Sometimes, it is life changing. Drugs are a problem that all too often leads to other crimes.

"As district judge, I will make judgments according to our laws and offer solutions to solve the problems."