Meet Michael Paston, Candidate for District Judge

With the November 8 election day swiftly approaching, Upper Dublin Patch is on a mission to inform its readers about the background and stances of every single candidate running for office in our township.

We'll present two pieces on every candidate: first an interview on their personal background, followed by a second to find out their viewpoint on key issues. To find which ward you're in, click here.

Michael Paston is challenging judge Patricia Zaffarano for district court justice. In May's primary election, for which both candidates cross-filed, Paston won the democratic nomination by 54 votes, 985 to 931.  Zaffarano carried the Republican ballot with almost 80 percent of the vote. To find out more about the position and its responsibilities, .

Upper Dublin Patch: What publicly elected offices have you held, and for how long?

Michael Paston: I have been on the Upper Dublin Board of School Directors for eight years including the last five as President. Many years ago I served on the Mount Laurel (NJ) School Board.

UDP: Can you take a moment to tell our readers a bit about yourself-- where you're from, your education, and your professional and personal achievements?

MP: I grew up in the Aidenn Lair section of Upper Dublin. I am a graduate of Upper Dublin (1982) and Penn State at which I obtained a BS degree in Accounting (1985) in three years. After Penn State, I graduated Temple Law School (1989).

My first job after law school was in the tax department at the accounting firm Laventhol & Horwath, and then Price Waterhouse. At PW I worked in the State and Local Tax Consulting Group. Over the next decade I practiced law in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey. My practice included criminal, civil litigation, family, arbitration, taxation and contracts. In 2001 I moved back to Upper Dublin to own/manage Jaguar Press. For the past few years I have been consulting for Pennsylvania school districts assisting with referendum planning.

In addition to serving on the UD School Board I am a Montgomery County Community College Trustee. In my spare time I like to help with the UDJAA basketball program and I am a PIAA basketball referee.

My wife Carrie and I have been married for twenty five years and have three wonderful children. Rachel is a senior neuroscience major at Bucknell University. Jake is a computer engineering freshman at the University of Delaware, and Matt is a junior at UD. Carrie is an emergency room physician at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden.

UDP: What do you think are the most important characteristics of a judge? How would you operate your courtroom?

MP: The most important characteristics of a judge are (1) Independence, (2) Integrity, (3) Good character judgment, (4) Knowledge of the law, and (5) Patience.

I have refused all campaign contributions from attorneys so as to maintain independence and not appear to be influenced by those who represent litigants and defendants. Just last week, the Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association said a judge asking lawyers for campaign contributions is “unseemly.”

My reputation is extremely important to me and I will never compromise my integrity or that of the court. Of course a judge must know the law, and in my practice I have experience in all the matters I will see on the bench in addition to teaching college paralegal students, and sitting as an arbitrator. Finally, patience is very important and in me you will see a Judge that will never be in a rush and will allow all litigants a thorough hearing.

UDP: You’re running against a sitting judge with a lot of experience, and you’ve publicly said that you haven’t had an issue with any of her decisions. Why should a voter consider you to replace her?

MP: I do not have an issue with the decisions of the incumbent judge because I have only witnessed a very few number of hearings in her courtroom and to draw any kind of conclusion from that is not fair.

She should be replaced for a three primary reasons: (1) The incumbent Judge refuses to hold evening court hours. I will hold evening hours to cut down on police overtime and allow litigants and witnesses to appear in court without incurring day care expenses or missing time at work. (2) I will work with high school students so they fully understand the potential consequences of bad choices and I will honestly answer all their questions. This includes spending time with St. Mary’s Villa residents with the goal of decreasing the significant amount of criminal behavior. (3) The court needs to be modernized. The court discourages the use of email and you cannot even call and get a message machine that provides such basics as the court hours, address or directions. Our court has not changed for 24 years and a new fresh approach is good, just as it is for most elected government positions.

Stick with Patch as we continue to speak with candidates. Click for previous interviews. Incumbents in bold.

Upper Dublin Township Commissioners

Ward 1: (R), (D)

Ward 5: (D), (R)

Ward 7: (R), (D)

UDSD School Board

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Magisterial District Judge

(D), (R)