Altoona native and attorney Curt A. Polito has announced his candidacy to replace outgoing Magisterial District Judge Todd F. Kelly this year, bringing the number of candidates seeking the post to at least three.

Polito, an Altoona Area High School graduate, has a juris doctorate from the Uni­versity of Ala­bama School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Alabama and West Virginia, according to his candidacy announcement. He said he has practiced law in several fields, including domestic abuse cases, wills and health care rules.

“I have a great admiration for our legal system, especially the judiciary,” Polito said in a written statement announcing his run. “If elected, I will fulfill the duties of magistrate with the utmost impartiality, integrity and competence.”

Polito worked as an intern at the Air Force judge advocate general’s office at Max­well Air Force Base in Mont­gomery, Ala., providing legal services to Air Force service members and their families. He has worked as a “moot court” judge for law students and is active with his church and in the Special Olympics.

Polito has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Messiah College and a master of law degree in civil and commercial law from a Rotary scholarship in China.

He joins a growing race to replace longtime Judge Kelly. Attorney Meghan Farrell Irwin and Altoona police officer Ben Jones have both publicly announced plans to run for District 24-1-02, which is based along Fifth Avenue and covers about one-third of Altoona.