Anthony Magaro announced his candidacy for Magisterial District Judge #52-2-01, a position that oversees five wards in the City of Lebanon, in a late January press release.
Magaro and his wife have lived for three years in downtown Lebanon. He has previously worked as as a state-certified auto inspection mechanic, a state-commissioned notary public, and a state-licensed real estate agent.
According to the release, Magaro plans to fund his campaign entirely out-of-pocket and will seek no endorsements or donations “to ensure neutrality.”
The Magisterial District Judges, 512 in total, are the first level of the judicial system in Pennsylvania. They are involved in small civil lawsuits, traffic tickets, and the early stages of criminal cases, among other proceedings. The position offers a salary of over $93,000.
Judges are elected for six-year terms and do not need a legal background before holding the position, though a four-week certification class is a requirement for those without this experience.
The #52-2-01 position serves the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Wards in Lebanon and been vacant since Thomas Capello resigned midway through his term at the end of 2019.
Read More: City MDJ Thomas Capello to resign in January
“The Magisterial District Court is the front line of the judicial system and it is imperative to know that you will be fairly heard while being treated respectfully and courteously,” Magaro stated in the release. “I can honestly assure you that I offer real judicial independence and will not be swayed by political or public pressure.”
Magaro is a graduate of Cedar Crest High School and the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center’s law enforcement program. After graduation, he served as an active-duty tank crewman in the US Marine Corps, from which he received an honorable discharge. In the release, Magaro stated that he had come from a “hardworking, blue collar family.” His mother’s unsolved murder in 1987 “cultivated [his] awareness of the importance of being firm regarding violent crime and having empathy for the victims and their families.
As of publication, Magaro will be going up against James Capello for the position in the May 18 primary election.
Read More: James Capello announces run for Magisterial District Judge in the City of Lebanon
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