Voters pick Kubit for county judge
Attorney Joe Kubit defeated attorney Jennifer Gilliland Vanasdale by a wide margin in Tuesday's election for a 10-year term as a Butler County Common Pleas Court judge, according to complete but unofficial results.
Kubit, who ran on the Republican and Democratic ballot, received a total of 26,639 votes and Gilliland Vanasdale, who ran as an Independent, received 15,906 votes with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Vote totals are not final until they are certified by the county election bureau.
“I am grateful for all the support I received from the voters of Butler County,” Kubit said late Tuesday night. “I am looking forward to serving them as their next judge. It's an honor for me to have their confidence.”
He received 21,099 election day votes and 5,540 absentee and mail-in votes, according to the unofficial results.
Of the 98 write-in votes in the race, 82 were cast on Tuesday and 16 were submitted through absentee or mail-in ballots.
Kubit is a partner in the law firm of Montgomery, Cissman, Kubit of Butler and serves as charman of the Butler County Community College board of trustees.
Kubit was born in Pittsburgh, but graduated from Knoch High School. He received an associates degree from BC3, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh and then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, receiving his law degree in 1990.
He defeated District Attorney Richard Goldinger in the primary.
Gilliland Vanasdale is a founding member of the Gilliland Vanasdale Sinatra Law Office that has offices in Butler and Cranberry Township.
A lifelong county resident, Gilliland Vanasdale graduated from Butler High School before receiving a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from the Duquesne University School of Law.
Incumbent District Judge William Fullerton currently serves District 50-3-05, which includes Butler city, ran uncontested.Attorney Joe Nash is seeking the District seat 50-3-01, which covers Slippery Rock and the surrounding northwest region of the county, and ran uncontested when District Judge William O'Donnell did not seek reelection.Kevin Flaherty, the county's former chief public defender, is took on the District seat 50-3-04, covering Cranberry Township and the surrounding southwest region of the county when District Judge David Kovach did not seek reelection.Former television reporter Amy Marcinkiewicz, who covered and lives in Butler County, took on District seat 50-3-06, which covers Evans City and the surrounding southeast region of the county when District Judge Wayne Seibel did not seek reelection.
