Gongaware approved for district judge position

A former Westmoreland County assistant district attorney will become the next district judge for North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin.

The state Senate this week approved Gov. Tom Wolf's nomination of Wayne Gongaware, 66, of North Huntingdon to succeed Douglas R. Weimer Jr., who retired June 2 after 24 years in the position.

Gongaware said Friday he must complete some documents for the state and be sworn into office by a county judge before he officially takes office. The process could be completed in about two weeks, he said.

“I'm looking forward to getting started,” said Gongaware, who retired in April after 27 years as a prosecutor.

The office became vacant when Weimer, who had won election to a six-year term in November, notified the governor in April that he was retiring for personal reasons.

The governor nominated Gongaware, a Republican, on June 13, in collaboration with the Senate after Wolf's judicial advisory council reviewed the applicants' qualifications, a governor's spokesman said. Gongaware was one of about 10 people to apply for the job.

Gongaware garnered the support of state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, whose district covers the magisterial district in North Huntingdon.

Two senior district judges, James Falcon of Youngwood and Thomas Brletic of McKeesport, were assigned to handle cases in the North Huntingdon magisterial office since Weimer retired.

Voters will elect Weimer's successor next year. Gongaware previously said he was not certain if he would run for the office. Under state law, he would have to retire at age 70.

Attorney Henry Moore, 54, a North Huntingdon Democrat, also sought the nomination.

Moore, a special master in divorce and all counts master for Westmoreland County's family court division, said Friday he plans to run for the office in 2017.

Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-5252 or jnapsha@tribweb.com.