May 16, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County Controller David Balint won both the Democratic and Republican nominations for district judge in Waynesburg, all but guaranteeing he will become the area’s next magistrate.

Balint, 39, of Waynesburg, easily won both party nominations and defeated challengers Owen Coffman and Jody Pierce-Craig during Tuesday’s primary election.

Balint secured 56 percent of the vote on the Democratic side of the ballot and 45 percent on the Republican ticket. Coffman and Pierce-Craig split the remaining votes nearly evenly.

“I’m thankful the people placed their faith in me,” Balint said. “It’s a serious job and a very important job in the community. I wish success for my opponents. It was a pretty clean race.”

The race between the three candidates was made possible after the seat was vacated by Lou Dayich, who held that position for 15 years, when he narrowly won election in 2015 to become a Greene County judge. Senior District Judge Jesse Cramer has filled the position in an interim role since early 2016.

Balint lives in Waynesburg with his wife, Kayla, and their two boys, with another child expected this fall. Balint has already taken the required training to be certified as a magistrate.

His name will now be placed on both party nominations in the general election this fall, making it unlikely a write-in challenger could overtake him.

“I’m going to be fair,” Balint said. “I think the people elected me to uphold the law. That’s what they want.”

The magisterial district includes Waynesburg Borough and the townships of Aleppo, Center, Freeport, Gilmore, Gray, Jackson, Morris, Perry, Richhill, Springhill, Washington, Wayne and Whiteley.

Meanwhile, District Judge Glenn Bates, whose district office includes Franklin, Jefferson and Morgan townships and Clarksville and Jefferson borough, was unopposed and won both party nominations to ensure his re-election effort.