Fourth Candidate Announces Run for District Court Judge

By Christina Georgiou

Tim Prendergast

Local lawyer Tim Prendergast announced today that he intends to run for the district magistrate seat left vacant by the sudden death of Judge Gay Elwell.

With a law practice in the West Ward, Prendergast said he has extensive experience arguing a wide variety of cases in district court, as well as serving as a part-time public defender.

"It is this practical experience and knowledge and skill set that I would offer the citizens of this District, along with my love of this city and its residents and a commitment to my profession," Prendergast said.

Prendergast also cited his family's deep roots in the city, that his father and grandfather were Lafayette College graduates, and a family history of community service in a variety of roles.

"It is this commitment to serve this community that I now seek to emulate in seeking this position, and I believe that I not only have the legal knowledge necessary to perform the duties of magistrate, but the temperament, energy, compassion and commitment that this particular district requires," Prendergast said.

"This district will be best served by an experienced attorney, versed in criminal and civil procedure and the rules of evidence and capable of making the fair and appropriate decisions from day one," he added.

Prendergast said he will be knocking on doors and meeting with local residents in the coming months, asking for their votes.

Prendergast is the fourth to announce his intention to run for magistrate of district court 03-2-05, which covers the Downtown, College Hill and part of the West Ward neighborhoods in the City of Easton.

Others that have announced they will vie for the position are Easton codes enforcement officer Sharbel Koorie, Downtown attorney Antonia Grifo, and Northampton County Constable Lance Wheeler.

It is rumored that Easton City Controller Tony Bassil is also intending to run, but he has not yet made an official announcement.

It is still possible that Governor Tom Corbett might appoint someone to fill the vacant position, but this is seeming more and more unlikely as time passes. It is expected that the declared candidates will all crossfile and run in the primary election in the spring, with the final winner to be decided in the November election.

Third Bid for District Magistrate Announced

Lance Wheeler, a local Pennsylvania State Constable for the Northampton County Sheriff's office, announced Tuesday at a press conference in front of his West Ward home that he will run for the open district magistrate position left vacant last month by the sudden death of Judge Gay Elwell.

Wheeler said that working in the district courts of Northampton and Lehigh counties provides him with first-hand knowledge of the mechanics of civil and criminal procedures, and that living in the most densely populated part of the City of Easton places him in the middle of the issues a district judge will face daily, from traffic violations to truancy, homicides to domestic violence and landlord to tenant disputes.

"As a constable I am familiar with the mechanics of the system and the necessity of discerning through the facts with impartiality," said Mr. Wheeler. He added his experiences have prepared him "to discern through the facts with impartiality and wisdom."

A registered Democrat, he will be cross-filing on the spring primary ballot he said.

Wheeler is the third declared candidate in the likely magistrate election for District Court 03-2-05, which covers the Downtown and College Hill districts of Easton, along with part of the West Ward.

Sharbel Koorie, another West Ward resident and City of Easton code enforcement officer announced his intention to run in late December, and Antonia Grifo, a Downtown city attorney, announced last week she too will run in the expected election for the vacant seat.

Two other candidates, attorney Tim Prendergast and Easton City Controller Tony Bassil, also seem likely to vie for the judgeship, but neither have yet made official announcements.

It is still possible that Governor Tom Corbett might appoint someone to fill the vacant seat, but this seems unlikely. Any gubernatorial appointment would have to be approved by the state senate as well.

Update, Thursday, January 17, 10:00 p.m.: Magisterial District Judge candidate Lance Wheeler has posted a Facebook page entitled "Elect Lance Wheeler". Listed are a number of public events in coming months where members of the public can meet and chat with him

Sharbel Koorie Announces Run for District Justice

Lifelong Easton resident Sharbel Koorie has announced his intention to run for magistrate of District Court 03-2-05, which was left vacant by the sudden passing of District Justice Gay Elwell earlier this month on Dec. 3.

At a press conference held at his home on South Ninth Street, accompanied by his wife and four children  along with four generations of his family, the Easton native said living in the West Ward and his day-to-day experience with residents and business owners gives him a clear perspective of the issues that face the city.

Currently, Koorie is employed as a city code inspector. He also operates a disc jockey business, is  landlord for a number of properties on the block on which he lives and is in the process of converting the former Northampton Glass building into a restaurant.

“This job requires a person who is able to understand the issues before them and make judgments based on the facts presented in each case,” he said. "“I’ve lived it here. Our neighborhoods have had murders, shootings, accidents involving loss of life, thefts, fires, vandalism, graffiti, domestic violence, carjacking, and the list goes on. Growing up in this type of neighborhood, you really learn to understand how things work and why."

Koorie said that he plans to be knocking on doors and meeting with constituents to ask for their vote.

“We need someone who will understand the issues and are able to read the people before them to make the right decisions when needed. I’m the person who has that unique insight of the issues that come before a district judge,” Koorie added.

District Court 03-2-05 covers Wards 1 through 6 in the City of Easton, which includes the Downtown district, as well as College Hill and a portion of the West Ward.

The court is currently being covered by retired local district judges.

While it's still possible, it seems unlikely that Governor Tom Corbett will appoint someone to fill Elwell's vacant district.

Koorie, along with any others that may vie for the magistrate position, will first go through the primary election on Tuesday, May 21. While judges are technically non-partisan, this step will whittle the possibilities down. Those who win in the primary will go on to the general election in November, and a new magistrate is likely to be sworn in in January 2014.

Updated at 11:24 a.m. to correct election details and at 11:50 a.m. to add photo.

Funeral Arrangements for Easton Magistrate Gay Elwell Set

Easton District Magistrate Gay Elwell will be laid to rest this weekend, it was confirmed today.

Viewing hours are 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, at Ashton Funeral Home, at 1337 Northampton St.

Her funeral will be held Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m., at the Bank Street Annex, 316 Northampton St.

"There will be a lot of people," said a representative for Ashton Funeral Home. "She touched many lives."

Interment will be private, at Easton Cemetery.

Those wishing to commemorate Elwell's legacy through memorial contributions may donate to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., and/or the Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St.

An obituary is posted on the Ashton Funeral Home website, where condolences may also be left.

Elwell was found dead in her home on College Hill on Monday, after she didn't come to work. A cause of death has not yet been released by the Northampton County Coroner's Office, but her passing is not being considered suspicious by authorities. She was 54.

Updated, Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 11:02 p.m.

Easton Magistrate Gay Elwell Dies Suddenly

By Christina Georgiou

Easton District Magistrate Gay Elwell,
seen at the ground breaking ceremony for
 the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in 2011

Easton Magistrate Judge Gay Elwell passed away unexpectedly in her home earlier today. Authorities say the death is not suspicious.

Elwell, 54, was found dead in her home Monday afternoon after not appearing at court offices in the morning, said a court clerk reached by phone. The court was open as usual in the morning, but was closed later in the day after Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek informed clerks of her death.

The cause of death is unknown, but is likely to be announced shortly through the coroner's office, the clerk said. She added the judge had not recently suffered any  illness or health problems.

"We're just in shock," she said.

Elwell, a College Hill resident and former newspaper reporter, had served as a district judge in Easton since 1996, when she was appointed to the post. She was first elected to the position in 1997 and served as a local magistrate ever since.

A number of Easton Police vehicles were seen outside the court offices, located on the corner of South Fourth and Northampton streets late Monday. The clerk said the various officers had been stopping by to offer support and condolences since the news broke.

District Court #03-2-05 will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 4, and some cases are likely to be rescheduled, but other county judges will be covering Elwell's court load until a new judge is appointed for Elwell's district, officials say.

Viewing and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Elwell was married to Karl Stirner, a noted Easton artist and long-time local art supporter. An arts and nature trail along the Bushkill Creek was named in his honor last year.

Updated, Monday, Dec. 3 at 8:04 p.m.