By Brittany Foster, Contributing Writer

With a week and a half before the election, editorial boards across the state are making their recommendations. Here’s a roundup of who earned the much-sought endorsements in the Sunday columns.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Wecht and Covey for appellate courts

Wecht, 49, has been an Allegheny County Common Pleas Court judge for more than eight years, formerly serving as the county’s elected register of wills. A Yale graduate, the Democratic nominee earned the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s “highly recommended” rating.

Stabile, 54, is managing partner for his law firm’s capital office, handling complex civil litigation. Stabile also served as a township supervisor for 10 years. The Republican nominee earned a “recommended” rating from the state bar.

In the contest for Commonwealth Court between two Bucks County attorneys, the quasi-judicial experience of having served on the state’s labor relations board gives an advantage to Republican ANNE E. COVEY, 51.

But Covey, a corporate lawyer noted by the bar for her “administrative experience and judicial temperament,” would be able to hit the ground running on this court, which handles appeals of government, regulatory, labor law, and worker’s compensation.

Harrisburg Patriot-News: Boockvar for Commonwealth Court

“Boockvar has spent her 17-year career working on a wide range of issues, has been on the nonprofit and private side of the law including as managing partner in her and her husband’s own firm focusing on numerous areas including labor practice and public records.

She was named a Rising Star — Super Lawyer of the Pennsylvania Bar three years in a row when she was in her 30s.

She has worked in rural and urban Pennsylvania. Most recently she served as a senior attorney for the Advancement Project that works to increase electoral participation.
While we believe both would serve the people of Pennsylvania well, we endorse Kathryn Boockvar for this important position.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Fitzgerald for County Executive

The votes he has taken and the record he has compiled — sometimes in opposition to his party’s leadership — attest to Rich Fitzgerald’s experience in this arena. That’s knowledge his opponent will take months, maybe years, to acquire.

Allegheny County can’t afford on-the-job training. That’s why the Post-Gazette endorses Rich Fitzgerald.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: 11 Candidates for Luzerne County Council

James Bobeck, Elaine Maddon Curry, Harry Haas, Eugene Kelleher, Michael Lacey, Tim McGinley, Rick Morelli, Jeremy Packard, Stephen A. Urban, Jane Walsh-Waitkus, and Rick Williams.

Endorsements from last week:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Boockvar and Wecht for appellate courts

With this range of experience, the state bar gave [Wecht] its highest rating, “highly recommended,” saying that he “has served with distinction” and “implemented innovative programs.” The bar association added, “His opinions evidence thoughtful scholarly research and demonstrate his keen intellect.” And Judge Wecht doesn’t reserve that intellect solely for his courtroom; the Yale University and Yale Law School graduate is on the adjunct faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh and he is an adjunct professor at the Duquesne University School of Law.

Pennsylvanians will be well served if their next Superior Court judge brings such a record of distinction to the bench. That’s why the Post-Gazette endorses Judge David Wecht.

While both candidates are rated “recommended” by the state bar association, we give the edge to Kathryn Boockvar, who has represented clients at all levels of the income spectrum and all across Pennsylvania. Her broad gauge of experience will be an asset for the people on Commonwealth Court.

The Intelligencer: Marseglia, Ansinn, Loughery for Bucks County Commissioner

County government needs a freshening, however, and we believe Democrats Marseglia and Ansinn, teamed with Republican Loughery, offer the best hope for innovative, responsive and cooperative service to Bucks’ 600,000 residents.

Voters can choose only two of the four candidates. But when they cast their ballots, they should keep in mind the direction they want the county to go and which team of three candidates can take them there.

The Intelligencer: Castor and Brown for Montgomery County Commissioner

And while Castor and Brown may not win the rhetoric contest, their plan to limit debt service — the county’s biggest line item — firm up the reserves and focus on reducing or eliminating non-core programs sounds like a more realistic approach to curing what ails the county. Equally realistic and honest is Brown’s comment that fixing what’s broken will be a long-term project, not a one-year miracle.

It’s our belief the Republicans have the stronger, more credible game plan. That’s why our endorsement goes to Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown.