Despite questions about his qualifications, state Rep. Don Walko last night snagged one of five open seats on Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, according to unofficial results.

Mr. Walko, D-Observatory Hill, has been a lawmaker since 1995 and is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Courts.

However, he said he hadn't written a legal brief since 1994 or 1995, and the county Bar Association's Judiciary Committee gave him a rating of "not recommended at this time."

Mr. Walko finished fifth among seven candidates.

The other winners were Susan Evashavik DiLucente, a two-term district judge from Forest Hills; Phil Ignelzi, a medical malpractice and criminal defense lawyer from McCandless; Arnie Klein, an Upper St. Clair trial lawyer; and Judge Joe Williams, a Penn Hills resident who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the bench last year. Judge Williams is serving in the criminal division.

All five were elected to 10-year terms.

"I started this quest in September '04," Mr. Klein said. He said he curtailed a 2005 bid because he didn't get a Democratic Committee endorsement; he ran in 2007, but lost.

Mr. Klein called himself a "hard-working guy who knows what he's doing and is going to treat people the right way."

Finishing last were Michele Zappala Peck, a special master for the court's Board of Viewers, and Alex Bicket, a high school teacher-turned-trial lawyer who specializes in environmental cases. Both are from Mt. Lebanon.

All seven candidates are Democrats, but it's common for judicial candidates to cross-file.

Judge Evashavik DiLucente, Mr. Ignelzi and Mr. Klein won both nominations in the spring primary. Mr. Walko and Judge Williams won the Democratic nods, and Mr. Bicket and Mrs. Zappala Peck won the Republican nods.

After losing the Democratic nominations, Mr. Bicket and Mrs. Zappala Peck ceased campaigning as a courtesy to the other Democratic nominees.

If the pair had removed their names from the ballot, the Republican Party could have fielded replacements. By staying on the ballot but not campaigning, Mr. Bicket and Mrs. Zappala Peck helped their fellow Democrats.

Mr. Bicket, Mr. Ignelzi and Judge Williams were rated "highly recommended" by the Bar Association's Judiciary Committee. Judge Evashavik DiLucente and Mr. Klein were "recommended." Mr. Walko and Mrs. Zappala Peck were rated "not recommended at this time."

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