New Westmoreland County row officers, district judges, sworn in

There’s a full slate of court proceedings waiting for Rebecca Calisti Tyburski in her first week as district judge in Harrison City.

She’s excited to get started Monday after weeks of learning the ropes with help from District Judge Helen Kistler, who is retiring from the Penn Township seat.

“She is an excellent mentor and has been helping me through the process,” said Tyburski, a former county assistant district attorney.

Similarly, Scott Fanchalsky has been working with Senior District Judge James Falcon in preparation to take over a vacant Hempfield court where Falcon has been presiding.

“I’ve put as much time in as available with Judge Falcon, just in an attempt to get the courtroom experience,” said Fanchalsky, South Greensburg’s former police chief.

Both were sworn in Wednesday and will start their new jobs next week, along with several others who were elected in November. Among them was Westmoreland County’s first female district attorney Nicole Ziccarelli. She took the oath of office from Judge Chris Scherer, whom she previously worked for as a law clerk.

Afterwards, Ziccarelli of Lower Burrell hugged family and supporters. She said she’s ready to get to work Monday.

“I’m very excited, but truly very honored that the people of Westmoreland County thought so much of my candidacy,” she said. “They issued a very strong mandate on Election Day, and I don’t intend to let them down.”

Ziccarelli was part of a Republican wave that took over county row offices and ousted two longtime Democratic office holders — District Attorney John Peck and Coroner Ken Bacha.

Also sworn in were Republicans Tim Carson of Scottdale as coroner and Gina O’Barto of Unity as prothonotary. Republican Megan Loughner of Unity was absent from the ceremony, but will begin her first full term as clerk of courts. She has been the acting holder of the office since February after a vacancy was created when Bryan Kline was hired as warden at the county jail.

In addition to Tyburski of Penn Township and Fanchalsky of Hempfield, Kelly Tua Hammers was sworn in to a district judge seat in Derry Township previously held by Mark Bilik, who retired a few months ago. Hammers of Derry Township left her job as assistant district attorney after being appointed to the office by Gov. Tom Wolf in mid-November.

Tamara Mahady of Latrobe, who was elected judge in a Unity district court, and District Judge Mark Mansour, who won re-election, will be sworn in later.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani pondered why citizens decide to run for public office in opening remarks for one of the two ceremonies. It can’t be the pay, glamour or loss of privacy, he said.

“We are all called to public office … because, in our hearts, each of us truly and rightfully believes we can make a difference in Westmoreland County,” he said.