By Tricia Pursell
MIDDLEBURG — Unopposed in Tuesday’s election to become a Union-Snyder county judge, Snyder County District Attorney Michael H. Sholley has been able to take it easy as far as campaigning is concerned, but there really is no rest for the challenge that lies before him.
For the last 10 years, Sholley, 53, has served as the county’s district attorney, and he previously was a police officer in Lewisburg. Both jobs helped him to see the needs of people in both Snyder and Union counties.
“What I bring to the bench is an understanding of the human element because of personal experiences and professional experiences I’ve had in life,” he said.
As district attorney, he has had the opportunity to play a crucial part in bringing back community outreach programs aimed at reducing crime, such as a full-time victim-witness assistance program and the D.A.R.E. program. He also helped to provide educational programs in schools on topics such as Internet safety. These programs, he said, are “spokes on a multi-spoked wheel.”
“We need to continue on preventative programs,” Sholley added. “You don’t want to wait until the problem is insurmountable.”
To do this, a combination of foresight and commitment is needed. “Education, I think, is critical to helping people avoid making poor choices,” he said.
As judge, Sholley, interestingly enough, hopes to see Union and Snyder counties become less dependent on the judicial system.
“I want to maximize the use of mediation and other vehicles to provide people the opportunity to solve their problems without judicial intervention,” he said. “As judge, being facilitator of that is critical.”
While Snyder and Union counties are experiencing their share of “growing pains” with population and crime rates, Sholley said they still have something that not all counties have.
“Our sense of community in the two counties is better than the average,” Sholley said, pointing to the family-oriented and small-town atmosphere still apparent among the residents. “Those are our strengths.”
Sholley garnered both the Republican and Democratic nominations in May’s primary election, beating out Lewisburg attorney Brian Kerstetter and Union County Assistant District Attorney Martin R. Wilson. He will succeed Judge Louise Knight, who is retiring.
“I want to thank everyone who supported me,” Sholley said. “And I want to thank my two opponents for being gentlemen and professionals in the spring. They both had before and have maintained my utmost respect.”
Sholley, a 1974 graduate of Lewisburg Area High School, has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney and is an active member of numerous community boards and organizations. He is an Army veteran and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1980.
He is the father of two teenage children, Ally and Tanner.
