Judge Neuman makes history with state Superior Court victory
Courtesy of Brandon Neuman
Judge Brandon Neuman made history Tuesday night becoming the first candidate from Washington County to ever win election to the appellate court as he secured a seat on the state Superior Court during the off-year election.
Neuman defeated Clarion County attorney Maria Battista and another independent candidate to win a seat on the appellate court and make history for Washington County.
Neuman, a Democrat who served seven years as a state representative and has been a Washington County Court of Common Pleas judge since 2018, deflected praise to his campaign workers and the voters in this corner of Pennsylvania who helped propel him to the victory.
“I’m very humbled and proud by the support I had locally in Southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the commonwealth focusing on my qualifications,” Neuman said while enjoying his election night party at Jackson’s in Southpointe. “I had a great team in place with volunteers and (campaign) workers locally and all across the state.”
Neuman will become the first judge from Washington County to serve on the state Superior Court since Judge Richard DiSalle was appointed to the appellate court by then-Gov. Dick Thornburgh in 1980. But Neuman is the first judge from Washington County to ever win election to a statewide appellate court, etching his name in history.
Neuman preferred to thank his supporters and the voters who elected him in his battle against Battista and independent candidate Daniel Wassmer. Neuman held a 54% to 44% lead over Battista, as of 11 p.m. Tuesday.
“It feels great to have the confidence of Southwestern Pennsylvania and across Pennsylvania, and I don’t take that for granted,” he said. “I’m thankful for that. I feel great. We’re just waiting for these last results to come in.”
Locally, in Washington County, acting Controller Heather Sheatler defeated Republican challenger Pat Phillilps to win a full term in her row office. Phillips defeated Sheatler in the Republican primary in May, but Democrats nominated her with enough write-in votes. Running as a Democrat, Sheatler rebounded to defeat Phillips by a 53% to 47% vote during the general election Tuesday night.
Sheatler, who was tapped to serve in an interim role last year after former controller April Sloane pleaded guilty in September to felony animal abuse in the starvation death of her dog, will now serve a full four-year term in the row office position dedicated to keeping accounting of county finances and audit other row offices.
In other local races in Washington County, voters retained Judge John DiSalle by a 57-43% margin for him to serve another 10-year term on the bench, if he so chooses.
In Fayette County, Republicans had a clean sweep in county row office positions. Incumbent Recorder of Deeds Jon Marietta Jr. defeated James Santilli by a 52-48% margin in the biggest race in the county. Republican Treasurer Melissa Tzan defeated Democrat Matthew Lancaster and Democratic Jury Commissioner Trinette Schmidt-Cunningham lost to Republican challenger Frank Mutnansky.
In Greene County, Chris Simms won the uncontested election to become the next judge on the Court of Common Pleas to replace President Judge Lou Dayich, who is retiring in January.