EBENSBURG —
Two Cambria County judges will seek retention election this year for another 10-year term in office.
Although President Judge Timothy P. Creany and Judge Norman A. Krumenacker will be seeking a third 10-year term, they both have served longer, having been appointed to judicial vacancies.
Krumenacker was appointed in December 1991, while Creany was appointed in July 1992. They ran and were elected by the voters for the first time in 1993 and then retained in 2003.
In a retention election, voters are able to cast either “yes” or “no” votes on whether to keep a judge in office. Although the retention election is not held until the November general election, both judges – as required by state regulations – already have notified the state court administrator’s office that they will be seeking retention.
Creany, 67, an Ebensburg resident, will be able to serve only part of another term because he’ll have to step down when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. But because it’s a position that he finds challenging and one which he loves, Creany already is anticipating that he’ll seek to serve as a senior judge.
“I really enjoy what I’m doing, and my health is good. Frankly, I don’t know what I’d prefer to do other than this,” he said.
As president judge, he is the administrative head of the county judicial system while handling the same judicial duties as all other judges in both civil and criminal areas of the law.
Krumenacker, 58, of Southmont, who has handled the children-and-youth services cases since taking office, expressed similar sentiments about the “work” of a judge.
“I still find it challenging. I still enjoy getting out of bed and coming to work every day,” he said.
He added, “It’s an opportunity to make a huge difference in kids’ lives who had been subject to total neglect and development. The system can help them to become productive citizens.”
Since becoming president judge in 2010, Creany has overseen an extensive courthouse renovation program that included moving the district attorney’s office into what once was the law library and bringing the public defender’s office out of the courthouse basement to the former district attorney’s office.
He, along with the county commissioners and others in the criminal justice system, have opened the day reporting center – a program designed to keep nonviolent offenders from committing more crimes. He and District Attorney Kelly Callihan were instrumental in setting up this year a veterans’ court to assist veterans with problems stemming from their service to the nation and who have committed nonviolent crimes.
In addition, Creany is working closely with Warden John Prebish to develop a central booking area at the county prison. The goal is to have it operational in the spring, the judge said.
Prior to becoming a judge, Creany served as a county prosecutor, initially as an assistant district attorney and then as district attorney then a part-time position from 1986 until 1992 while maintaining a private law practice in Ebensburg.
Krumenacker was instrumental in established the county’s CASA program, which is a corps of volunteer court-appointed special advocates who assist abused and neglected youngsters. Currently, there are 40 volunteers in the program, he said.
He had been an active teacher and lecturer, including serving as an instructor at the National Judicial College, on a variety of criminal justice topics. He was a public defender prior to being appointed a judge and also had a private law practice.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
