The race is on … signs are appearing around the area. Each of the candidates who have filed have Internet presence with Websites or facebook sites or other social media sites. The folks who’ll be casting ballots for one of the four will be registered voters who live in West Hempfield Township, Mountville and Columbia.

In the most recent election in which a high-profile office was “contested,” the number of voters who voted in each of the municipalities were:

• West Hempfield Township … 1,481
• Mountville ………………………..    191
• Columbia ………………………….   956

The candidates who have filed lists of signatures and a Statement of Financial Interests form for Magisterial District Judge for district 02-1-06 are:

Miles Bixler, 515 Pitney Road, Columbia, PA; his listed profession is police officer.

Robert L. Buzzendore, 1053 Central Avenue, Columbia, PA; his listed profession is attorney.

William Genetti, 216 Providence Place, Mountville, PA; his listed profession is police officer.

Mark Pugliese, 3472 Coronet Avenue, Lancaster, PA; his listed profession is law enforcement.

Magisterial District Court is the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial district judges handle all traffic cases, minor criminal cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. District justices also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.