KINGSTON TWP. — Brian Tupper received 1,914 votes, earning him the position of magisterial district judge in district 11-3-09, according to unofficial election results.

“I feel indescribable,” Tupper said about the preliminary numbers. “I want to thank everyone that helped with my campaign and everyone who went out to vote today.”

The 37-year-old campaigned against attorneys Gary Michak, Thomas Mosca and Adelle Zavada to replace his father, retiring Magisterial District Judge James E. Tupper. All the candidates were on both the Democrat and Republican ballots.

District 11-3-09 covers Dallas and Harveys Lake boroughs; Dallas, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston, Lake and Lehman townships.

Tupper and his wife, Chelsey, along with family, friends and supporters, watched the unofficial election results at J&J Deli, 3101, state Route 415 in Dallas.

“I am at a loss for words,” he said. “All the knocking, door to door and meeting the residents of the Back Mountain just reaffirms my commitment to the residents.”

Tupper, a classification analyst at Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Co., in Wilkes-Barre, prepared for the challenge of filling a position his father held for 24 years by completing a four-week certification course by the Justified Judicial System of Pennsylvania in June 2016.

“I was one out of nine (students) to pass the course and receive a certification from the commonwealth,” he said in a previous interview. “You are required to take the course if you want to become a judge and don’t have a law degree.”

The course prepared him to handle claims under $12,000, landlord and tenant issues, traffic violations, preliminary hearings, and warrants, as well as many other legal matters he would be required to preside over as a district judge.

District judges in Pennsylvania are tasked with presiding over preliminary arraignments and hearings in criminal cases, as well as handling minor civil matters and proceedings involving summary offenses. They are compensated $89,438.

Tupper’s campaign promoted him as fair-minded, with a strong work ethic and desire to be a ‘full-time judge.’

The Shavertown resident said he wants to work with local law enforcement to increase outreach programs for children to promote safety and drug awareness.

He graduated magna cum laude from Misericordia University in Dallas with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.

Tupper has worked at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas and the State Workers’ Insurance Fund in Scranton.

Chelsey and Brian Tupper watch the preliminary voting results at J&J Deli in Dallas Tuesday. Brian Tupper is one of four candidates vying for magisterial district judge in district 11-3-09. Unofficial election results listed Tupper as the winner with a total of 1,914 votes.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Tupper-1-9.jpg.optimal.jpgChelsey and Brian Tupper watch the preliminary voting results at J&J Deli in Dallas Tuesday. Brian Tupper is one of four candidates vying for magisterial district judge in district 11-3-09. Unofficial election results listed Tupper as the winner with a total of 1,914 votes. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

Magisterial District Judge 11-3-09 election unoffical results

Brian Tupper

Republican – 1,239

Democratic – 675

Attny. Gary Michak

Republican – 775

Democratic – 528

Attny. Thomas Mosca

Republican – 1,069

Democratic – 610

Attny. Adelle Zavada

Republican – 162

Democratic – 175

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.