Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
City & State
This week Senate lawmakers confirmed the first Asian American judge to the Third Circuit this week, while candidates around the commonwealth picked up endorsements for offices ranging from mayor to county commissioner. It wasn’t all good news in Pennsylvania, though, as some Philadelphia Starbucks locations were ruled to have violated federal labor law, and a former county commissioner pleaded guilty in a stalking case. That doesn’t even get to the state’s train derailment dilemma. Never a dull week!
Scroll down for more of this week’s Winners & Losers!
Cindy Chung -
The top federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh was confirmed by the Senate this week to the commonwealth’s federal appeals court, making Judge Cindy Chung the first Asian American judge to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Chung, who was chosen among five nominees by President Joe Biden, is also the president’s 100th judicial confirmation.
Kelly Neiderer & Nate Silcox -
Cumberland County Treasurer Kelly Neiderer and Hampden Township Commissioner Nate Silcox won the Cumberland County Republican Committee’s primary endorsements for county commissioner over two incumbents – giving the challengers some momentum heading into the spring. Whether they can best Gary Eichelberger and Vince DeFilippo and take their seats will be determined in due time.
Lucine E. Sihelnik -
Former Reading City Council member Lucine E. Sihelnik was appointed to replace Kevin Barnhardt on the Berks County Board of Commissioners after Barnhardt left the role to become chief operations officer for Berks County. Sihelnek was appointed by the county’s board of judges, which chose her out of 22 applicants. She’ll be sworn in next Tuesday, per the Reading Eagle.
Starbucks -
There’s a good chance Starbucks executives have a lot to vent(i) about right now. The National Labor Relations Board ruled this week that Starbucks illegally fired two employees and committed other union-busting practices meant to disrupt labor organizers at two Philadelphia stores. Starbucks Workers United said in a statement that the coffee giant isn’t upholding the “progressive values” it claims to hold.
Marty Nothstein -
Even after going from Olympic gold medalist to county commissioner, no one expected Lehigh County cyclist Marty Nothstein to make this turn. This week, Nothstein pleaded guilty in a stalking case involving his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend. Sentenced to 12 months of probation, Nothstein was also ordered to continue mental health counseling and have no contact with the victims.
Nicole Ziccarelli -
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli may have described a car accident she was in last year as a minor incident, but an investigation from the Pittsburgh-Tribune-Review found that the accident racked up a $33,000 repair bill for the DA’s county-owned SUV. Ziccarelli paid the $2,500 deductible herself, but the incident could spark conversations around transparency and access to government-issued vehicles.