Randolph "Randy" Smith, a resident of Bowmanstown, will seek his first term to the office of Magisterial District Judge 56-3-02 in the May 17 Primary Election. The Magisterial District Judge office covers the boroughs of Bowmanstown, Palmerton, and Parryville.The office also includes the townships of East Penn, Franklin, Lower Towamensing and Towamensing. Smith, a Democrat, will cross-file on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Born and raised in Palmerton, Smith is the son of the late Delbert D. Smith and Pauline A. (Costenbader) Smith. He is a 1972 graduate of Palmerton Area High School and the Carbon County Vocational-Technical School. He is a 1974 graduate of Thaddeus Stevens Trade School. He graduated from the Allentown Police Academy in 1981.Smith, for the past 30 years, has been employed by the Palmerton Police Department. He currently serves as the Chief of Police. Throughout his career, he has extensive courtroom experience in both the Magisterial Court and the Court of Common Pleas in Carbon County. Over the course of his 30-year career, he had received numerous commendations for his exemplary and outstanding service to the residents of the Palmerton Borough. Community leaders, businesses and citizens have expressed gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and care in numerous "Thank You" letters. A career highlight was being honored by Palmerton Borough Council and the Palmerton Area Education Association for saving the life of a young boy. He was also honored by the Palmerton Area Education Association as a "Friend of Education".He is an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police Le-Hampton Lodge #35, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, PA., Attorney General/Carbon County Drug Task Force and Carbon County DUI Task Force. He held the position of President of the Palmerton Police Benevolent Association. He is a certified Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) instructor, having taught at S.S. Palmer School, Towamensing Elementary School and St. John Neumann Regional School Palmerton/Slatington.Smith is a life member of Palmerton Fire Department, having held the position of Financial Secretary for the West End Fire Company #2. He is a social member of Blue Ridge Country Club and American Legion Post #314 in Lehighton. He attends Sacred Heart Church in Palmerton.He is married to the former Maria E. (Rios) Smith for the past 33 years. She is employed by the Borough of Bowmanstown, serving as tax collector. They are the parents of two daughters, Miranda and Justina.For more information, contact Randolph "Randy" Smith at

smith4mj@ptd.net.