Feb 23, 2015 2 min read

Former state representative Jesse White announced Monday he is running for magisterial district judge.

White, 36, of Cecil Township, is seeking the seat vacated in 2013 by Valarie Costanzo when she was elected as a Washington County Court judge. White has operated a law practice in Cecil for 11 years and served four terms as a state representative in the 46th District. He previously served as a Cecil Township supervisor and auditor and has legal experience as a judicial intern.

“As an attorney, I have represented clients in front of magisterial district judges countless times, and I not only understand what the job requires, but also the virtues that make for a good judge,” White said in a news release. “I also believe my eight years serving on the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives gives me a unique perspective on how the law is supposed to be applied in real-life situations.”

White graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2000 and graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in 2003. He was chosen to attend a course for local government leaders at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2013.

White said he would make the office more accessible by offering evening and weekend hours, and would also provide resources so residents can better understand the legal system. He said another priority is to better handle drug cases because he “knows what it’s like to see family members struggle with drug addiction and recovery.”

White intends to cross-file on the Democratic and Republican tickets for the primary election this May. Attorney Traci McDonald-Kemp, who