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Published: March 10, 2015 - Updated: March 10, 2015 10:27 pm

By Barbara Miller

Staff Writer

Barbara S. Miller / Observer-Reporter

Business was brisk Tuesday at the Washington County Elections Office, and a rumor a Democrat would come forward to challenge incumbent Republican Gene Vittone for district attorney turned out to be more than just speculation.

Washington attorney Peter V. Marcoline III clocked in a sheaf of Democratic nominating petitions at 10:02 a.m.

Marcoline, 37, of South Strabane Township, has been practicing law in Washington County for a dozen years. In 2004, he joined the law firm Blackwell & Associates, where has maintained a general practice, handling criminal defense, family law, personal injury, construction litigation, juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency cases. A graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and Dickinson Law School, he made a run for judge in 2013 but failed to secure a nomination.

Vittone, 55, of Bentleyville, is trying for his second, four-year term as district attorney. In 2011, he prevailed in a close general election race against Democrat David DiCarlo of Peters Township. Vittone holds masters degrees in business administration and health administration and a law degree from Duquesne University. He succeeded Republican Steve Toprani, who defeated longtime District Attorney John C. Pettit, after Toprani chose not to run a second time.

The Washington County commissioners race yielded no surprises with three incumbents, a host of announced candidates and one perennial candidate filing for four-year terms. The field includes incumbent Democrats Larry Maggi of Buffalo Township and Harlan Shober of Chartiers Township, plus Democratic challengers Allen A.J. Williams of North Strabane Township; Judith L. Fisher of South Strabane Township; Corey McConn of Cross Creek Township; and Randy J. Barli of Coal Center, who has unsuccessfully sought state and county office repeatedly over the past decade.

On the GOP ticket, incumbent Diana Irey Vaughan of Nottingham Township is one of three candidates, including Mike McCormick of Peters Township and Nick Sherman of North Strabane Township.

Read more from the original source:
Democrat emerges to challenge incumbent DA