After 24 years in office, Centre County Magisterial District Judge Carmine W. Prestia, Jr. will not seek re-election this year for a fifth term.
Prestia said in a news release that he will retire when his current term ends on Jan. 6, 2020.
“This has been one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever done,’ Prestia said. ‘I have always tried to be fair and just, remembering that everyone who comes into the court expects justice and compassion. I will miss working with everyone who has touched my career.”
Prestia was a police officer for 25 years before retiring from the State College Police Department in 1995 and running for the then-newly created District 49-1-01 court. The district serves parts of State College and the Penn State campus.
During his time as a district judge, Prestia has been active with the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania and served as its president.
A volunteer firefighter, Prestia has been an active member of Alpha Fire Company for 46 years and is also an amateur radio and family genealogy enthusiast. He said that in retirement he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and on his hobbies and avocations.
Prestia and his wife, Elaine, have lived in State College since 1970. They have two sons, Christopher and Andrew, and two grandchildren.
In addition to Prestia’s seat, two other Centre County district judge positions are up for election this year: Districts 49-3-02 and 49-3-05. District judges are elected to six-year terms.
District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker currently serves 49-3-02, which represents northeastern portions of the county, including Bellefonte and Bald Eagle Valley areas.
District Judge Steven Lachman currently serves 49-3-05, which serves northern and western State College and a portion of downtown. Lachman has already announced that he will seek a second term.
District Judges Casey McClain, Thomas Jordan, and Allen Sinclair represent Centre County’s other three district courts.
