Matthew TothLebanon Daily News
A political newcomer won the race for district judge in Lebanon Tuesday, narrowly defeating a man whose father had held that office for the past 30 years and whose mother won a fourth term as mayor of Lebanon, according to unofficial results from the county office of elections.
Democrat Aurelis Figueroa won a tight race against Republican James Capello, winning 676 votes against Capello’s 649 votes after all 60 precincts reported in and all mail-in votes were tabulated. The new magistrate judge will serve a 6-year term.
“All I can say is all glory goes to God first, and the people of Lebanon have spoken,” she said to the Lebanon Daily News. “It was a very close race, and I am extremely grateful and honored to be the first Latina magisterial district judge for Lebanon County.”
Figueroa added she will be focusing on taking the certification classes and the exam required for this post coming up in December.
As of Tuesday night after all 60 precincts reported in, Figueroa was winning 654 votes to Capello’s 637. However county election officials reported they received 515 mail-in votes on Election Day, and were still counting them Wednesday morning.
Election results:Incumbent Republican Mayor Sherry Capello gains a fourth term as mayor
The position, which serves the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th Wards in Lebanon, has been vacant since Judge Thomas Capello, the father of the Republican candidate, retired midway through his term in 2020.
The position does not require a law degree or other legal or law enforcement credentials. District judges must take four weeks of legal training and an exam if they aren’t a lawyer, plus take annual legal classes.
A real estate agent with Iron Valley Real Estate and a notary public, Figueroa said she was running because the community wanted someone “impartial, neutral and ethical” on the ballot.
“I could work on returning trust to this district court,” she said.
Figueroa has been a resident of Lebanon for more than 20 years. She doesn’t aim to turn this into a career but aims to inspire other community members to get more involved.
After a couple of bad experiences with the courts, Figueroa has spoken of “humane alternatives” to fines according to income. Fines for truancy, fighting in school, and other low-level offenses disproportionately harm young people.
“Being poor is not a crime,” she said. “Not everyone has $500-$600 in their account.”
Figueroa campaigned against Thomas Capello as a write-in candidate in 2015.
District judges hold major sway over the lives of people that enter their courtroom. Among other duties, they rule on eviction cases, set bail and decide whether to dismiss criminal cases or send them to common pleas courts.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com