Bucks County judges race takes shape after primary

An Upper Bucks County district judge and former prosecutor fell short in his bid to secure a spot on the ballot for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.

The primary election outcome leaves four other GOP candidates to face a slate of Democrats in November.

Gary Gambardella, who was not endorsed by the county Republican Party, failed to garner enough votes in the primary election to be on the November ballot for one of the four open seats on the bench.

The Republican ticket for the November general election will feature Grace Deon, Chelsey Jackman, Joseph Pizzo and Colin Monahan. They will face Democrats Linda Bobrin, Amy Fitzpatrick, Dawn DiDonato Burke and Tiffany Thomas-Smith.

Gambardella’s campaign had emphasized his experience on the bench and as a prosecutor. 

In Pennsylvania, judicial candidates are permitted to cross-file and appear on both Democratic and Republican primary ballots.

Pizzo is a longtime attorney and solicitor who has represented municipalities including Bensalem Township and previously Middletown Township. 

Deon, with three decades of experience as a trial attorney, served as president and CEO of Eastburn and Gray, described as the county’s oldest and largest law firm.

Jackman is an associate at Begley, Carlin, and Mandio, and previously served as a special victims and human trafficking prosecutor in the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and as a county solicitor. 

Monahan, who runs his own firm, has handled cases at both the state and federal levels. 

Bobrin currently serves as the county’s Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court. She previously was a Newtown Township supervisor and operated her own law firm. 

Thomas-Smith has two decades of experience as an attorney and began her career as a public defender in Philadelphia.

Burke has three decades of experience as an attorney and previously worked as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. 

Fitzpatrick, who is not related to the Republican congressman, is the county’s solicitor and previously worked for national law firms.