Caulfield to Keep Seat as Judge

secured his position in Forest Hills by winning on both the Democratic and Republican tickets in yesterday’s primary election.

Caulfield won the Democratic ballot with a total 39.91 percent of the vote (1,139 votes) and the Republican ticket with 37.69 percent of the vote (372 votes).  Poll results are according to the unofficial returns posted on the Allegheny County Department of Elections website.

“We’re very fortunate," Caulfield said. "There were so many people working for us, praying for us, and really going all out. Family, friends and supporters who stood outside for us for 13 hours in the rain."

The five remaining candidates lost the race with the following vote tallies:

• , president of Swissvale borough council, with 20.60 percent of the vote on the Democratic ticket (588 votes) and 18.03 percent of the vote on the Republican ticket (178 votes);
• , Churchill lawyer, with 12.33 percent of the vote on the Democratic ticket (352 votes) and 23 percent of the vote on the Republican ticket (227 votes);
• , vice president of Swissvale borough council, with 10.97 percent of the vote (313 votes) on the Democratic ticket and 13.17 percent of the vote (130 votes) on the Republican ticket);
• , mayor of Swissvale, with 13.31 percent of the vote (380 votes) on the Democratic ticket and 8 percent of the vote (79 votes) on the Republican ticket; and
• Richard Jordan, of Forest Hills, with 2.73 percent of the vote (78 votes) on the Democratic ticket.

Caulfield, Petrarca, Trautman, Busch and Swartzwelder cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican tickets, while Jordan filed only on the Democratic ticket.

“Congratulations to Mr. Caulfield," Trautman said. "It was a lot fun and it was just a good race and I enjoyed myself."

Petrarca said he originally planned to run for Judge Cioppa’s seat, before it was redistricted, and was pleased with his results in Swissvale and Braddock Hills, towns where he said he is known.

“I ran a clean race, which is me, that’s what I am,” he said of his campaign.

Jordan said he recognized that it was a tough race, as it was his first political campaign.

“What you put in is not necessarily what you’re going to get out,” he said.

Busch and Swartzwelder were unable to be reached for comment.

Now that the race is over, Caulfield said he looks forward to working together with the other candidates - elected officials in their own right, which he respects.

“I think that working together to work towards the best interests of all of our constituents will be a lot easier now,” he said.  He added that he was proud that everyone ran a clean, professional race.

Caulfield also plans to make a smooth transition of the addition of Braddock Hills, Chalfant and Swissvale into his court’s jurisdiction.

District Court 2-08, located in Forest Hills, was recently reconfigured to include Braddock Hills, Chalfant and Swissvale, which are currently covered under Judge Ross C. Cioppa’s district.  its doors at the beginning of next year as part of statewide redistricting measures.

Edgewood and Wilkins Township, which presently fall under District Court 2-08’s jurisdiction, will be moved to current and Judge Leonard J. Hromyak’s court in Penn Hills, respectively.

Both Woodland Hills High School in Churchill and the Junior High School in Swissvale will also fall under District Court 2-08’s jurisdiction.  Caulfield said he would like to continue the current truancy program in place in the district, as he feels the social workers involved in the program have made great strides.

“The social workers that have come into my courtroom this year have been excellent and have done an excellent job,” he said.

Caulfield ran for district judge in 2001 against Susan Evashavik-DiLucente when Judge Frank Communale retired, but he lost that race.

After Evashavik-DiLucente was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, Caulfield wrote to the governor asking to be appointed to the position.  The governor appointed Caulfield to office last summer.

As an attorney, Caulfield worked as a public defender and as a legislative assistant to State Rep. Paul Costa, D-34. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

As a Churchill resident, Caulfield served on borough council for five years and also served as its president.

Caulfield, 44, is married to Robin Caulfield of Swissvale and they have two children, Alex, a high school student, and Sean, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh.

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