Christine Rush’s desire to continue serving her community and aiding its young as the magisterial district judge in Erie’s 1st Ward will reach its next milestone in the Nov. 4 general election.
Rush, 59, cleared the first hurdle in the May primary, when she won the Democratic nomination for a seat currently occupied by Sue Mack, who is not seeking reelection. Rush was challenged in the primary by Paul “P.J.” Monella, who cross-filed in the race and won the Republican nomination.
But Monella said he formally withdrew from the race following the primary, leaving Rush as the only candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot for a seat that serves six-year terms and has an annual salary set at $113,713 in January.
Rush said she isn’t taking anything for granted, however. There’s still an election to win. But she’s ready for the position if it comes, as she said she has obtained her state certification for the job.
Christine Rush is a candidate for Erie 1st Ward District Judge in Erie in the 2025 election.
Rush, the married mother of four children who has eight grandchildren, said she will bring to the job if elected a wealth of community service and public advocacy. She has chaired juvenile diversion programs locally and for Pittsburgh-based Project Impact, has served as a cheer coach and parent representative for the R. Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School and has mentored young women across the state.
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A graduate of East High School and the former Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Rush said she has also served as past chair of the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, helping to aid the board’s planning and operation and maintain its overall integrity and service delivery during the pandemic; and as vice-chair of the Erie County Land Bank, where she assisted in brokering a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild underserved communities.
Rush is the longtime district director for State Rep. Patrick Harkins, D-1st Dist., and is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. sorority (Mu Nu Omega chapter). As district judge, Rush said her goals include working with others in the community to address truancy and supporting a juvenile diversion program for first-time juvenile offenders of nonviolent crimes.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Christine Rush seeks six-year term as Erie PA 1st Ward district judge