Four candidates are entering the May 20 primary elections for two Common Pleas Court judge positions and three candidates are running for coroner, according to nomination petitions filed Tuesday with the county bureau of elections and Pennsylvania Department of State.

Tuesday was the deadline for Republican and Democratic candidates to file their petitions. The judge candidates filed their petitions with the Department of State because judges are state employees. The coroner, sheriff, controller and clerk of courts are county employees, and candidates must file their petitions with the elections bureau.

Two judge offices are open due to the end-of-the-year retirement of Judge Timothy McCune and a new seventh judge position created by Act 58 of 2023.

Clarion County public defender Jacob Roberts; Matthew McCune, a Butler attorney and Timothy McCune’s son; John Scialabba, the husband of state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, and a partner in a Pittsburgh law firm; and Pittsburgh attorney James Insco II, of Mars, filed their petitions.

McCune and Scialabba filed petitions to run on the Republican and Democratic ballots to seek both party nominations, and Insco and Roberts filed petitions to run only on the Republican ballot.

County-level judges serve 10-year terms.

Running to replace Coroner William F. Young III, who is retiring, are deputy coroners John C. Hanovick and Korynne L. Young, and Braden Fox. All three are running on the Republican ballot.

Tammy D. Thibadeau filed her petition to run for the Republican nomination for the clerk of courts to replace Lisa Lotz, who also is retiring. No other candidates filed petitions.

No one is challenging incumbent Republican Sheriff Mike Slupe or incumbent Republican Controller Ben Holland in the primary.

County coroner, clerk of courts and sheriff serve four-year terms.

March 18 is the deadline to file objections to the petitions, casting of lots to determine the position of names on the ballot will be held at noon, March 19, in the UL conference room in the government center annex and March 26 is the last day for candidates to withdraw petitions.