Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge John F. Wagner Jr. will face a retention vote in the Nov. 3 election.

In retention elections, judges are unopposed, allowing voters to decide whether they want to keep them on the bench for another 10 years. Voters will decide yes or no on whether to retain Wagner. The judge has to receive just one more "yes" vote than "no" vote to win another term.

Wagner has 22 years of experience as a judge, having been appointed to the bench in 1987 after Judge Fred C. Adams retired. He was elected to a full 10-year term in 1989 and retained for another in 1999.

Judges must retire at the age of 70, meaning this retention election will be the last for Wagner, 62.

"Everybody hopes they are making a difference in the community and helping make it a better place to live," Wagner said. "Obviously, the resolution of disputes and problems between people is important, and working within the justice system, you hope you are making some difference in everybody's lives."

As he did in his 1999 retention election, Wagner is not soliciting monetary campaign contributions. Citing the "importance of an impartial judiciary," Wagner said he wants to pay his own campaign expenses "to avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Wagner practiced law from 1972-87 in Connellsville. He was an assistant public defender from 1972-76 and an assistant district attorney from 1977-87.

Wagner is married to Christine Cavalier Wagner. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Wagner is one of five Common Pleas judges in Fayette County. He is the only one facing retention, with voters having retained judges Ralph Warman and Gerald R. Solomon in 2007. Judge Steve Leskinen is up for retention in 2010.

One of the five, President Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi, will step down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Two candidates, District Attorney Nancy Vernon and Uniontown attorney Ernie DeHaas, will battle it out in the November election to replace Capuzzi.

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