Local attorney dominates Dem race

By Mike Joseph

Local attorney Stacy Parks Miller swept to a decisive victory in the Democratic primary for district attorney Tuesday, capturing almost 60 percent of the vote in a three-candidate race.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

Stacy Parks Miller does some last minute campaigning outside of the Boalsburg Firehall polling place during the primary election on Tuesday, May 19, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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“We worked really hard and this is what we hoped for,” Parks Miller said from a victory party at Prospector’s Restaurant at about 10:30 p.m., when the results were clear.

Parks Miller, a criminal defense lawyer who was a former assistant prosecutor in Clearfield County, defeated another criminal defense lawyer, Tony De Boef, and 18-year assistant prosecutor Karen Arnold.

Parks Miller got 58 percent of the vote. De Boef came in second with 22 percent of the vote and Arnold was third with 20 percent.

The outcome set the stage for a summer and fall campaign leading to a showdown in the Nov. 3 general election between Ferguson Township resident Parks Miller, 40, and incumbent Republican District Attorney Michael Madeira, 44, of Julian.

Madeira, who was unopposed on the Republican ballot Tuesday, sealed his re-nomination with 85 percent of the vote. The remainder of the Republican vote — more than 700 ballots — went to write-in candidates. More than 1,750 Republicans who went to the polls Tuesday did not cast a vote for anyone in the district attorney race.

The breakdown of which write-in candidate got how many votes was not available early today, though it seemed clear that some would be for Parks Miller.

“I heard at every polling place a lot of Republicans are writing me in,” Parks Miller said. “Republicans reached out to me as well, and I need to get to know as many people from both parties as I can now. ... I do think the results are an indication of the community’s need for change in this office.”

Snow Shoe Republican Brian Walker, an engineer who voted for Madeira four years ago, worked for Parks Miller’s campaign this spring and helped her celebrate Tuesday night.

“I know Stacy,” Walker said. “I feel like she’s the best qualified person based on her experience.”

Madeira could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Parks Miller and Madeira in the months ahead will find the Centre County electorate significantly changed since the election in November 2005, when Madeira defeated Arnold 55 percent to 43 percent to become the county’s new top law enforcement officer.

Ray Gricar, who had been district attorney for 20 years, announced plans to retire after his term expired at the end of 2005. But he vanished on April 15, 2005, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

In 2005, Centre County counted 85,000 registered voters, 44 percent of them Republicans and 38 percent Democrats. Today, after last year’s registration surge, especially among Penn State students, the county lists 105,000 registered voters, 44 percent of them Democrats and 38 percent Republican.

Tuesday’s election results together with the Democratic shift of the Centre County electorate would seem to put pressure on Madeira in the coming campaign because he will not only need nearly complete support from Republicans but Democratic support as well to defeat Parks Miller.

Mike Joseph can be reached at 235-3910. Sara Ganim contributed to this story.

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