GOP candidate downs Zagurskie

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MIFFLINTOWN - A strange set of circumstances set in motion by a retiring judge in 2008 has led to the election of a new chief prosecutor for Juniata County - Republican candidate Cory J. Snook appears to have secured a victory over Democratic Candidate Don Zagurskie for the position of district attorney, according to the unofficial election results.

The final unofficial results: Snook received 2,928 votes, and Zagurskie, 2,623.

At around 9:30 p.m., the first five precincts reporting placed Snook in the lead by nearly 90 votes, and that lead started to expand into the hundreds with half the precincts reporting, and by the time 15 of the 20 precincts were reporting, Snook's lead shrunk to within 150 votes.

By the time the final results were tallied, people were on the edge of their seat waiting to hear the results.

Juniata County Commissioner Teresa O'Neil read off the results in a crowded hallway in the courthouse. Each time she stood at the end of the hallway to read the numbers, the bustle of activity came to a standstill and people focused their attention on the ballot numbers.

Snook brings with him a legal background which includes, past work for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Snook currently has a private practice in Mifflintown.

"Well it was a close race, I knew it was going to be tight race," Snook said upon hearing of the election results.

Snook said he felt humbled by the support he has received from the voters.

"I feel the voters have placed a great deal of trust in me and I look forward to living up to that," he added.

The race for district attorney ultimately began in 2008, when now-Senior Judge C. Joseph Rehkamp retired as the president judge for Juniata and Perry counties. This subsequently led to Judge Kathy A. Morrow's promotion to president judge and left an opening on the bench.

Three candidates faced off in the May 2009 Primary to secure the nomination, including former Juniata County District Attorney Ken Mummah, who won by a near landslide victory in both counties. He was then shortly thereafter appointed by Gov. Edward G. Rendell and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate to take the oath of office, because the two counties were found to be in need of two judges.

Mummah was first elected as district attorney in 2003 and was midway through his second term when he announced his intention to run for judge, and because this scenario played out during a municipal election year, both political parties were then tasked with nominating a candidate to replace Mummah. Had this not occurred during a municipal election year, the then Assistant District Attorney John Mort would have served out the balance of Mummah's term, which would have ended in 2011. Mort is currently serving as Juniata County District Attorney.