MERCER COUNTY Judicial seats

Three attorneys are running for two Mercer County Common Pleas Court seats.
CHRISTOPHER J. ST. JOHN, (D,R)
Age: 51
Home: Clark
Employment: Partner in the Greenville law firm of Rowley, Wallace, Keck, Karson and St. John, covering civil and domestic law; a Mercer County public defender; solicitor for Mercer County Industrial Development Authority and six townships
Education: Graduate of Kennedy Christian (now Catholic) High School, Hermitage; attended John Carroll University in Cleveland and earned bachelor's degree in law enforcement and corrections from Pennsylvania State University; law degree from Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Experience: Practicing attorney since mid-1980s; former criminal investigator for the Mercer County district attorney's office; legal assistant for the firm of Kirkland & amp; Ellis in Washington, D.C., from 1977 to 1980
Bar association ranking: Highly qualified-52, qualified-34, unqualified-8
Family: Wife, Cynthia; two daughters
Priority: "To use all of my education and training, my analytical and critical writing skills and my vast courtroom experience to resolve cases in a fair and expeditious manner."
STEPHEN J. MIRIZIO (D)
Age: 56
Home: Farrell
Employment: Private practice attorney; solicitor for the city of Farrell
Education: Graduate of Farrell High School; accounting degree from Youngstown State University; law degree from Cleveland State University's Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Experience: A sole practitioner since his graduation from law school in 1974, developing a diverse practice involving the implementation of every aspect of the law, including criminal and civil matters
Bar association ranking: Highly qualified-19, qualified-57, unqualified-17
Family: Wife, Carisse; two sons
Priority: "To offer my education, experience, knowledge, dedication, tolerance and no-nonsense as a judge of the court of common pleas."
JOHN C. REED (R)
Age: 61
Home: South Pymatuning Township
Employment: Private practice attorney
Education: Graduate of Hickory High School, Hermitage; bachelor's degree from Thiel College; law degree from Duquesne University School of Law
Experience: Diverse law practice for more than 30 years; solicitor to the Mercer County sheriff and Sharpsville and West Middlesex school districts: legal adviser appointed by Mercer County courts to the Mercer County Domestic Relations Division and to serve on the Orphans Court rules committee; three years as a counterintelligence investigator with the U.S. Army
Bar association ranking: highly qualified-55, qualified-30, unqualified-9
Family: Wife, Virginia; three sons and a daughter
Priority: "To use my experience, credentials and leadership to serve the county as a common pleas judge."