PA municipal election: Who’s running for Centre County DA, district judge?
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Centre County Voters Guide: 2025 municipal election
The Pennsylvania municipal election is Nov. 4, and Centre County voters will see statewide judicial candidates on their ballots, along with local races for councils, boards of supervisors and boards of education. This voters guide was compiled by the League of Women Voters of Centre County with assistance from the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
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PA municipal election: Who’s running for Centre County DA, district judge?
Centre County District Attorney
Bernie Cantorna
Party: Dem
Did not respond to questions.
Magisterial District Judge District 49-03-02
Kelley Gillette-Walker
Party: Dem, Rep
Did not respond to questions.
Magisterial District Judge District 49-01-01
Donald M. Hahn
Party: Dem, Rep
Education: JD, 1992, Villanova University School of Law; BA, 1987, Pennsylvania State University
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: ADJUDICATION ALTERNATIVES. My district frequently has the largest number of summary non-traffic cases in the county. When appropriate, I will continue to support alcohol education courses and community service opportunities over fines and imprisonment when it is in the best interests of the community and the defendant.
LANGUAGE ACCESS. Penn State attracts many residents for whom English is a second language. I will continue to work with the statewide court system to recruit qualified interpreters from within the Penn State community. More qualified interpreters will result in improved quality of service and better justice for our foreign-language neighbors.
FAIRNESS TO TENANTS. The number of landlord-tenant complaints have declined in my district. However, I will continue to remain cognizant that financially troubled tenants deserve a fair opportunity to cure their rent arrears. Protecting state law pay-and-stay rights is important.
Magisterial District Judge District 49-03-05
Steven Lachman
Party: Dem, Rep
Campaign website: stevelachmanforjudge.com
Education: Bachelors in Political Science from Vassar College; Juris Doctor cum laude from Vermont Law School; Master’s and Doctorate in Geography from Penn State University
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: As a judge, I seek to foster a civil society. First, that means promoting the rule of law. Laws establish norms of behavior and protect people from being harmed by others. As a judge, I honor the oath I took to uphold the law and the constitution.
Second, a civil society respects all its members. In my courtroom, that means treating all persons who appear before me with courtesy, and giving them an opportunity to be heard. For those who experience disability (including poverty, a lack of education, or alienation from everyday society), it means patience and going the extra mile to insure they can fully participate in our legal system.
Third, a civil society is compassionate and never vengeful or mean-spirited. I hold people responsible for their actions, but more importantly, seek to educate them. In a district where many defendants are college students, I use community service and counseling programs in place of fines and incarceration for most first-time offenders.
This story was originally published October 12, 2025 at 6:50 AM.