I am a lifelong resident of Wayne Township in Schuylkill County. I graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 1994. After high school, I attended Berks Technical Institute and obtained an Associates Degree in Electronic Technology. I worked as an installation and repair technician for Cellular One and AT&T Wireless in the late 1990s in both Berks and Schuylkill County. From 2000 to 2002 I worked at Radio Maintenance in Berks County performing repairs and installations of 2 way radio systems and first responder equipment. I worked out of Berks County and helped to service multiple counties, primarily focusing on police, municipal, fire, ambulance, and emergency communication centers.
Since 2002 I have worked at the Berks County Jail System as a correctional officer. I have worked in the Booking/Records Department for the past 16 years. On a daily basis I work with various law enforcement agencies ranging from immigration, sheriffs, state police, local police, constables, and US marshals. I also work daily with various common pleas courts, magisterial courts, domestic relations, adult/juvenile probation and parole. Over the years I have worked with thousands of varying court documents and still do today. The inmates that I encounter have crimes ranging from parking tickets to life and death sentences for murder. I am the primary notary for all the inmates at the jail. Through all my years of service at the jail, the population has ranged between 800 – 1200 inmates. Over my career I have been Officer of the Year, assisted with new officer training, helped draft and implement inmate shaving policy, assisted with upgrades to records department, responded to numerous emergency calls, and received a commendation for saving an inmate from a suicide attempt.
With all my experience and years of high stake, dangerous, and stressful situations, I will bring to my local community and Schuylkill County a knowledgeable, well rounded and calm demeanor when presiding over the courtroom. I will strive to make my court as efficient as possible because everyone’s time is valuable. I will ensure everyone who comes before me will have their voices heard. My ultimate goals will be helping to keep the community and county safe while promoting civil discourse amongst neighbors and ensuring everyone’s rights are protected.
Everyone who comes before me will receive impartial and just treatment regardless of their status in life, gender, or skin color.
Everyone in my courtroom will be held accountable for their actions, including myself.
I will show up each day to strive to be the best I can be while always trying to improve and make the judicial process as efficient and effective as possible for all.
I will control my emotions and remain calm no matter the situation to promote more effective communication, understanding, and decision making.
I will help to ensure all involved, whether it be victim, plaintiff, witness, defendant, or community, will be as safe as possible. This will be accomplished by fully utilizing all the judicial tools available to me as I work through whatever the situation may be.
A magistrate is the first judge that most people will meet when dealing with issues such as traffic tickets, truancy, crimes, bail, landlord/tenant matters, and lawsuits. The magistrate can decide cases, motions, arguments, and impose sentences. A magistrate can also perform marriages, issue warrants and emergency protection from abuse orders.
A magisterial judge is elected to a 6 year term. Mandatory retirement is age 75.
Barry, Branch, Cass, Eldred, Foster, Frailey, Hegins, Hubley, Pine Grove, Porter, Reilly, Tremont, Upper Mahantango, Washington, Wayne
I would say it is trying to meet as many voters as I can to introduce myself and have their consideration and ultimately gain their confidence and vote. The magisterial district 21-03-04 is a massive area which is half of the entire size of Schuylkill County.
I decided to do this after a few years working at my current job while working with countless magisterial offices across Pennsylvania. I saw this as an opportunity for a challenging job advancement and at the same time being able to help serve my community in which I have lived my entire life. I started to prepare and seriously take steps with this endeavor in 2018. There have been setbacks and obstacles along the way, but I have continued to push forward in hopes of becoming 1 of 7 magisterial judges in Schuylkill County.
I am a lifelong resident of Schuylkill County in Wayne Township. I grew up on Schuylkill Mountain Road with my parents Guy and Shirley Smith. I currently reside in Wayne Township with my wife and 2 children.
