Six seek district judge post in Stonycreek Township

March 14--Six people have announced their candidacy to replace District Judge John Barron in Magisterial District 47-1-02 in the Belmont section of Stonycreek Township. He is retiring after serving four terms.

The court covers Ferndale, Geistown, Scalp Level, Southmont and Westmont boroughs; Richland Township Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11; and Stonycreek and Upper Yoder townships.

Those vying for the office include three attorneys, the son of a former magisterial judge, a longtime district court office manager and the president of Cambria County Crime Stoppers and founder of its Push Out the Pusher program.

Candidates Michael Filia, Susan Gindlesperger, Joe Green, Gary Martin, Max Pavlovich and Sheryl Safina-Pfarr all cross-filed, so their names will appear on Democratic and Republican ballots in the May 16 primary election.

Michael Filia

Attorney Michael Filia has been practicing law for more than 26 years and has maintained a practice in Johnstown since 1990.

He has represented clients in criminal and civil matters. Filia has experience in criminal cases ranging from driver's license to capital murder cases. In civil matters, he has handled cases involving real estate, estate administration, custody, adoptions, children and youth, divorce, personal injury, landlord-tenant, unemployment compensation and municipal law.

Filia earned his bachelor's degree from Pitt-Johnstown and his law degree from West Virginia University.

He has been selected to serve on many arbitration boards to hear cases and resolve disputes.

He practices law before a range of Pennsylvania courts including the Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme courts.

Filia has served on the Cambria County Bar Association board of managers and is past president of the organization.

He lives in Westmont with his wife, Karen, and their daughter.

Susan Gindlesperger

Richland Township resident Susan Gindlesperger spent 39 years working in Cambria County's Magisterial District Court system, including 29 years as officer manager for District Court 47-1-03 in Johnstown.

During that time, Gindlesperger and her staff processed more than 82,000 cases, from homicide and rape to child molestation and child abuse.

Gindlesperger said in a statement that she is "fed up with the current drug epidemic that is plaguing our once vibrant community (and) committed to serving the people of Cambria County and enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

Gindlesperger served on the Cambria County Healthcare Committee, where she worked to minimize health care costs for county taxpayers. She also served on the Cambria County Labor Management Committee. She is a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Geistown and formerly was an officer of Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department's Ladies Aid Group.

Gindlesperger is the controller at Allegheny Field Services, where she manages the company's finances.

She is married to former Richland fire Chief Dean Gindlesperger. They have two sons.

Joe Green

Joe Green, a Cambria County assistant district attorney, is a graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School and Pitt-Johnstown, and received his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.

"The decisions made at the first level of justice, our magisterial district courts, can have a profound effect on many lives," Green said in a statement. "I promise to work hard and use my decades of legal experience to run our court efficiently and to help keep families safe."

Green has been an assistant district attorney since 2011 and has prosecuted many cases including homicide, rape, child molestation, robbery, assault, drug trafficking and burglary.

Green previously worked with his father for a Johnstown law firm in private practice. The work included criminal and civil litigation, municipal law, finance, estate planning, real estate law, business law, family law, workers' compensation and social security benefits.

He also served as attorney in Cambria County's juvenile court system, Children & Youth Services and Domestic Relations.

"I have spent my entire legal career serving the people of Cambria County, and it has been an honor and privilege," Green said. "I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work hard, full-time, for the people of the district."

He lives in Richland.

Gary Martin

Gary Martin, president of Cambria County Crime Stoppers and founder of the Push Out the Pusher program, is seeking the magisterial office on a vow to "fight drug dealers."

"My record of fighting crime, helping take drug dealers off the street and strong community involvement are exactly what we need in a district judge," Martin said in a statement. "Our community is under siege by drug dealers. We need a judge who will fight for average working people."

Martin founded the county Crime Stoppers organization more than 20 years ago and in 2013 created the Push Out the Pusher program, which offers rewards to anyone reporting drug dealers who are successfully prosecuted. It has taken more than 400 dealers off the streets.

"I am proud of always being an advocate for our community," Matin said.

He is a former legislative constituent service aide and past director of safety at the former Mercy Hospital in Johnstown.

He has been involved in many events and organizations including cab rides for those who have been drinking on New Year's Eve, educating children about drugs, St. Patrick's Day Brunch, the police memorial and Cambria County Senior Fair. He also has multiple certifications for crisis intervention and safety management.

Martin is a graduate of Greater Johnstown High School and attended St. Francis University.

Max Pavlovich

Max Pavlovich, son of former magistrate Max Pavlovich, has served residents as a legislative assistant to state Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar of Berlin. In that role, Pavlovich managed the lawmaker's legislative office in Windber, helped run community outreach programs and assisted families, seniors and small businesses with state-related issues.

As legislative assistant, Pavlovich said he has seen firsthand the devastating impact the drug epidemic and drug-related crime is having on residents.

Pavlovich said in a statement that he is prepared to use his experience to manage a professional office that is "tough on crime while understanding the difference between a hardened criminal and a kid who made a mistake."

Pavlovich earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Pitt-Johnstown. He also earned credits toward his degree from West Virginia University and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

During summer vacations, Pavlovich committed time to helping local children. He worked as a counselor for 3 years at the Summer in the City program, where he mentored young students.

He also worked in construction and now is employed at Country Manor Living personal care home.

Pavlovich said he pledges to be "fair and open-minded" in performing his duties as district judge.

Sheryl Safina-Pfarr

A lifelong Johnstown resident, attorney Sheryl Safina-Pfarr has 28 years of civil and criminal trial experience.

For the past 13 years, she has been a family lawyer focusing on adoption, divorce, custody and support cases.

Safina-Pfarr graduated from Bishop McCort Catholic High School in 1982 and earned a bachelor's in communications with a minor in business/pre-law from Pitt-Johnstown. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law in Dayton, Ohio.

"My passion for justice and community has inspired me to run for magisterial district judge," Safina-Pfarr said in a statement. "My law and business background, coupled with being a sole practitioner, has provided me with invaluable experience that I will bring to the office of district judge."

She has worked as a full-time assistant solicitor to the Cambria County commissioners for 8 years and served as a part-time public defender for 5 years.

She has served on many boards and committees including Mom's House, The Learning Lamp and Community Action Partnership of Cambria County.

"Most importantly, I am ready go to work as your district judge, not as a politician, insider or part of the 'good 'ole boys' network," Safina-Pfarr said. "My vision is to educate our youth about drugs and to get addicts to recovery, where appropriate, in order to become productive citizens."

Patrick Buchnowski is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5061. Follow him on Twitter @PatBuchnowskiTD.

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