District attorney seeks third term
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone plans to seek a third, four-year term beginning with the May Republican primary.
In addition to a law degree from Duquesne University, Vittone, 59, of Bentleyville, has both a master’s of business administration degree and a master of science in health administration.
In a news release, Vittone said he has confronted the opioid epidemic head on with a number of programs that have received statewide and national attention.
“We are heartened by recent news that drug overdose deaths declined by 22 percent over the year before,” he said. “While everyone welcomes this news, the battle is far from over.”
Vittone promised to continue to work with state, federal and local officials to prosecute the dealers but to also work compassionately with those who are addicted.
“Almost all of us know someone who has been impacted by the opioid epidemic,” Vittone said.
Another area on which Vittone’s office has focused is crime against the elderly.
During Vittone’s tenure, he has begin a community prosecution program that involves assigning each assistant district attorney to a magistrate’s office on a rotating basis, giving the same prosecutor the ability to follow a case from start to finish.
“In doing this, we have reduced the number of cases that come before the court of common pleas, ” he said. “Our prosecutors are able to focus on major cases resulting in significant cost savings.”
He noted his office has been under budget every year he has been in charge, resulting in more than three quarters of a million dollars in taxpayer savings.
The 2019 salary of the Washington County District Attorney is $182,184.