43
Lawrence primary D.A. race is upset
The district attorney said he wasn’t able to counteract his opponent’s negative campaign.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — In a very contentious Democratic primary race for district attorney, private attorney Joshua Lamancusa defeated incumbent John Bongivengo.
Lamancusa beat Bongivengo on Tuesday 63 percent to 36 percent in a light voter turnout. Election results are still unofficial.
Lamancusa, 35, has been in private practice with his father, Carmen, at their offices on the North Hill since 2005. He ran ads accusing Bongivengo of mismanaging the office he’s held since 2006.
Lamancusa said he would bring his five years’ experience as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps prosecuting attorney to the district attorney’s office. He said that during his career, he specialized in prosecuting child pornography cases and sex crimes against children.
Bongivengo, 38, had been an assistant district attorney and a public defender before winning the office.
He said that under his direction, his office had a 92 percent conviction rate.
Lamancusa alleged Bongivengo mismanaged personnel, finances and the office caseload.
Bongivengo, who responded to each allegation in an interview with The Vindicator shortly before the election, said that Lamancusa made issues out of nonissues.
Tuesday night after the election, Bongivengo criticized his opponent.
“I think it was a complete, dirty, negative campaign filled with complete lies,” Bongivengo said.
He said he tried to campaign on his record, but he was unable to reach the public to counteract Lamancusa’s assertions.
“I have documentation to prove it was out-and-out lies,” Bongivengo added.
He said Lamancusa doesn’t deserve to be district attorney.
“Hopefully, George Freed wins,” he said of the Republican candidate, who was unchallenged in the primary.
“That sounds bitter, I know,” he said, adding that it was just hard to stomach the attack on his integrity.
Lamancusa said Tuesday night he’d like to thank his supporters for their vote of confidence.
He attributed his win to “a grass-roots campaign” that included support from family and friends.
“I look forward to serving the people of Lawrence County,” he said.
starmack@vindy.com