Blair looks to have won nomination for district judge
With seven of seven Uniontown wards reporting late Tuesday, it appeared that incumbent Mark L. Blair earned the Democratic nomination for Uniontown Magisterial District Judge besting Uniontown Police Lt. Michael “Mick” Metros by a mere 7 votes. Blair gained 375 votes for the Democratic nomination while Metros collected 368, according to unofficial results.
Former Uniontown police chief Ronald K. Machesky finished third on the Democratic ticket with 358 votes for the nomination after the bitter and hotly contested race.
On the Republican ballot, Machesky earned the Republican nomination, collecting 147 votes to 107 votes gained by Gary Altman and 84 votes garnered by Metros. Altman received only 169 votes in the Democratic ticket, while Blair collected 73 votes.
Other candidates included Dan Campbell, who garnered 88 votes on the Democratic ticket and 44 votes for the Republican nomination, according to unofficial totals and Brian Miller, who received 131 votes for the Democratic nomination, unofficial results revealed. Miller did not cross-file.
Election officials reported about a 30 percent turnout Tuesday across Fayette County.
Blair, who declined to participate in an editorial board session with the Herald-Standard, said he focused his campaign on door-to-door talks with Uniontown constituents.
Blair is a former Uniontown police officer and his father, Lawrence Blair, held the post for several decades prior to his son assuming the position several years ago.
Machesky is a lifetime resident of Uniontown and served on the city police force for 24 years, rising to the rank of police chief. After retiring from the department in 1999, Machesky worked for the University of Pittsburgh as a police officer and then last year assumed the position of public safety director in Penn Hills. He resigned from that post this year and currently is working as the director of safety in the Laurel Highlands School District. Additionally, Machesky has served 15 years on the Uniontown Area School Board.