This post is paid advertising by Erik Itzen for Magisterial District Judge.

Former Lebanon City Police Officer and 15-year city resident, Erik William Itzen, announces his candidacy for the open Magisterial District Judge seat in Lebanon City, district 52-02-01, which covers the 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th and 10^th wards.

Erik holds a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from East Stroudsburg University and received his Act 120 certification from Temple University Police Academy. He started his service to the city in 2005 as a patrolman in the Lebanon City Police Department. He went on to teach and mentor in the Lebanon School District. He now holds a leadership position as a Senior Security Officer at a world-renowned hospital in South Central Pennsylvania.

Erik and his wife, Valerie, a long-time teacher in the Lebanon School District at Southeast Elementary, also served for 7 years as relief house parents at the Milton Hershey School. Together with their two children they live within a block of the office in which Erik would serve. He understands the values and concerns of his neighbors and others in the community and would be sure to take them into account when rendering decisions. 

Erik has real world experience and knowledge applying Pennsylvania criminal and vehicle laws as well as city ordinances. Erik testified before the magisterial district judge and in criminal court and participated in the preliminary hearing process. He understands firsthand the difficulty of police work, but his involvement in the community through mentoring, teaching, and serving as a house parent also gives him insight into the problems faced by people from many walks of life.

If elected, Erik will work to build a positive relationship between the community and the court system. He will take a humble, personable approach to the seat and will treat everyone with respect, using the law as his guide. Erik’s education, involvement in the community, and first- hand experience in the law and court system give him the tools to carry out the duties of the office with integrity, thoughtfulness, and dignity. Erik promises to dedicate to this position the time and effort it deserves and to carry out diligently the duties of the court. He will do his utmost to ensure that each and every person will be treated equally and fairly in accordance with the law, and that he will honestly and without prejudice evaluate and listen to the arguments presented to him as the Magisterial District Judge of District 52-02-01.