Ellis to retire from district judge position
District Judge James Ellis, who oversees magisterial court matters in Peters, Nottingham and Union townships and Finleyville, announced Tuesday he would not seek re-election this year and is retiring after 30 years on the bench.
The announcement came on the same day that nominating petitions for seats up for election this year must be filed. Ellis is one of four Washington County district judges whose terms are up this year and must run for re-election.
Ellis, 62, thanked his family for their support, along with “special recognition” for the two campaign managers who were “instrumental” in getting him started three decades ago, the late Joe Femiani and Henry Hoffbauer.
He said he circulated nominating petitions and garnered more than 600 signatures, but decided not to file them by the deadline Tuesday because he was “ready to move on” after discussing it with his wife and children.
One candidate for the seat filed late Monday: Jacob Machel of 220 Robinhood Lane, McMurray, who identified himself as a commercial real estate broker. He cross-filed on both tickets. It was not immediately known if there will be other candidates filing before the deadline.
“It’s been a great honor, privilege and pleasure to serve the people of my community in this capacity and I am humbled that they have entrusted me with this position for 30 years,” he said.