In the process, the voters by a large margin retained Blair County Judge Wade A. Kagarise.

According to the unofficial tallies released by the Blair County Board of Elections, Doyle received 11,111 yes votes compared with 11,881 no votes on the question of her retention for another 10-year term.

There is a chance Doyle could still win her bid for a third term.

The Election Board must still count 1,333 mail-in ballots; Doyle needs 770 votes to overcome the deficit.

Doyle

Doyle faced stiff opposition from a group of citizens concerning her handling of custody cases during the COVID-19 pandemic and from law enforcement officers who were critical of her bail policies.

“I’m fine. If this is the final tally, then the voters have spoken,” Doyle said Tuesday evening.

She said her rejection after 20 years on the bench opens up new opportunities for her.

“God has a plan. One door is shut, another opens,” she said.

If the vote stands, Doyle will be the third Blair County judge to not be retained.

Dave Consiglio (right) hugs his sister Kellie Hurd of Hollidaysburg next to their cousin Jackie Runk of Altoona during an election gathering at the Heidelberg Country Club on Tuesday evening. Mirror photos by Patrick Waksmunski

Judge R. Bruce Brumbaugh 34 years to the day was the first judge to not be retained.

Judge Norman Callan was not retained 22 years ago.

If the final tally shows she lost a retention election, Doyle will not be permitted to serve as a senior judge.

In that case, Kagarise will become the next president judge of the Courts of Common Pleas, she said.

He was seeking a second 10-year-term on the bench. The voters retained Kagarise, casting 17,815 “yes” ballots versus 4,663 “no” votes.

Miller

Kagarise said he was pleased the voters decided to return him to the bench for another term.

“I worked hard to be a good judge, to do a good job, to do what is right.”

He said he is proud to represent the citizens of Blair County and he respected the voters’ decision.

The voters also elected Consiglio and Miller to fill vacancies due to the retirement of Judges Daniel J. Milliron and Timothy M. Sullivan.

Consiglio received 16,735 and Miller, 16,441 votes.

Blair County’s two new judges held rallies on Tuesday night, giving them a chance to thank their supporters and providing them the opportunity to discuss their new jobs.

Miller, who was with supporters at the Altoona Grand Hotel, pointed out that he has been serving as a magisterial district judge for the past 21 years, and noted as a Common Pleas Court judge he will be able to continue to serve the community.

“This is my opportunity to do so,” he said while greeting friends.

He said he will continue to “work hard, put the time in, study the law and apply it.”

Presiding on the bench however is nothing new.

As a magistrate, he said he has presided over more than 50,000 cases.

But, Miller said, there still will be a learning curve.

Miller is a believer in specialty courts.

Years ago, he recommended the creation of a Veterans Court, an idea that was recently approved for Blair County.

He also wants to explore the development of a mental health court, emphasizing that mental health and drug issues are prevalent in Blair County.

Miller also suggested that Blair reinstitute a truancy court that was discontinued some time ago.

Consiglio met with his supporters in the Heidelberg Club on Frankstown Road

“I feel extremely humbled. I am flat out happy,” he said.

He agreed with Millerthat there will be a learning curve, but he proposed that Blair County attack what he called the docket, or backlog of cases.

Consiglio suggested that it be done in an orderly but aggressive manner.

A Hollidaysburg resident, Consiglio spent his career with a State College law firm, handling cases in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

Gaining a seat on the Blair County bench, he said, is a type of homecoming for him.