Judge of The Court of Common Pleas Candidate Questionnaire Responses

Please provide your name, age, town where you live and current occupation. 

Consiglio: David B. Consiglio, 55, Hollidaysburg PA, Attorney

Miller: Judge Fred B. Miller

Age: 52

Residence: Sinking Valley, Altoona, PA

I graduated from Penn State (Finance) and the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. I have been an attorney for over 25 years and Blair County District Judge for 20 plus years.

I have been active in the community my entire life – including the Blair County Parks and Rec Board, United Way and ARC of Blair County. I oversee a youth soccer program with over 300+ players and have run the Reliance Bank Holiday Basketball Tournament for 10+ years that helps provide funds to support elementary school reading programs.

Seelye: My name is Joel Seelye. I am 42 years old. I reside in Hollidaysburg. I am an attorney and partner at Grabill & Seelye, P.L.L.C.

Please describe your family.

Consiglio: Lisa, my wife of 32 years, and I have four children, Andrew, Kathryn, Nicholas and Benjamin. Our close-knit family has lived in Blair County since the early 1900s. My parents, Dave and Veronica, and sisters Kellie and Nicole live in the Hollidaysburg area. My uncle Richard, former District Attorney, and wife Sally, live in Hollidaysburg. My uncle Anthony, St. Vincent de Paul Director, and his wife Debbie live in Roaring Spring. My uncle Richard Dasch, retired railroader, lives in Lakemont with his wife Mary Ellen. The newest family member is my granddaughter Rowan of Williamsburg. It’s been a wonderful life.

Miller: I am born and raised in Blair County. My family and my wife’s family (Imler) have lived in Blair County for decades. My wife, Tracy, and I are the proud parents of our 14-year-old son, Grant, who enjoys playing soccer and running track. Tracy is a Registered Nurse (Penn State) who is currently employed as a certified school nurse.

Upon graduating from law school, I had job opportunities in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Blair County has always been my home and is where I wanted to live, work and raise a family. I am pro-life and a life-long supporter of the 2nd Amendment.

Seelye: I have been married to Amanda Seelye for 15 years. We have four children. Henry, 12 years of age, Mitchell, 10 years of age, Claire, 7 years of age, and Theodore “Teddy,” 5 years of age. They have lived in Blair County their entire lives.

What in your background permits you to effectively represent this area?

Consiglio: I was born and raised in Altoona and Hollidaysburg and have lived here my entire life with the exception of the years spanning college and law school. I’ve been practicing law for over 29 years as a member of the Blair County Bar and have been involved in numerous civic and sports organizations in the County throughout my life. Blair County values gave me a reverence for God, love of country, respect for the rule of law, and hard work ethic. I’m committed to protecting those values as a Judge if elected.

Miller: I have served as a Blair County District Judge for 20+ years. I want to continue my judicial work to protect the families and communities of Blair County and to hold lawbreakers accountable. As Judge, I have handled over 50,000 cases and protected private property rights which is very important for farmers in the Cove as well as our towns. I have run an efficient court with no backlog that has saved the taxpayers of Blair County thousands of dollars.

I am honored to have the support of Former State Representative Jerry Stern, Former Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes, Jr., retired Judge Craig Ormsby and Judge Andy Blattenberger.

Seelye: As a Blair County Judge, this area entrusts me with the highest responsibility of applying the law and upholding the constitution. With over 16 years of courtroom experience in civil, criminal, and family law, I have the background and relevant legal knowledge residents should demand from our court. I am proud to bring my legal experience and my dedication to our community to the bench. As judge, I will follow the law, uphold your Constitutional rights, and keep county families safe through prompt decisions rendered in a fair and impartial manner. I will be ready to serve on day one.

What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of this area?

Consiglio: We’ve all been deeply impacted by the constant reports of crime, drugs, young people leaving the area, difficult economic times, and national institutions that run counter to Blair County’s traditional values. While I’ll always follow the law, my philosophy is that the law should reflect our history and traditions, which I believe best serve and protect citizens. Certainly, no Judge can single-handedly solve these issues, but a good Judge can and should uphold the law fairly— consistent with the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution when outside forces seek to infringe upon them. These are our biggest challenges.

Miller: In 2022, Blair County set a record for drug overdoses deaths with 70. Approximately 90,000 grandparents in Pennsylvania are raising their grandchildren due to their parents being either in jail, deceased or whereabouts unknown due to drug issues

Both District Attorney Pete Weeks and Coroner Patti Ross agreed that “things are out of control.” Actual Judicial Experience matters. I have a proven judicial track of being fair, yet firm and holding lawbreakers accountable. I am honored to have the Unequaled support of law enforcement including over 9,000 active and retired State Troopers across Pennsylvania.

Seelye: Fentanyl is devastating our community and is the No. 1 cause of death among adults 18-45. In the past two years, Blair County has lost over 130 lives to Fentanyl overdoses. The drug problem in this area continues to plague the community and the court system. We have also seen a recent significant spike in juvenile crime, which must be addressed. As it relates to the court system, the biggest challenge facing the residents of this area is finding ways to address the drug problem through continued support of law enforcement and community organizations, who join in the mission.

What do you expect to accomplish in the upcoming term if you are elected?

Consiglio: Every Judge has a responsibility to instill confidence in our institutions—particularly in the Courts. This can only be done with a respect for the rule of law, prompt and fair adjudication of cases, and a recognition that Judges work for the people of the County. To me, this means that any citizen appearing before the Court should leave knowing that the Judge attentively heard their case, considered the issues conscientiously, and ruled fairly with all due speed, whatever the outcome. In short, I expect to administer justice authoritatively but as a servant of the people.

Miller: Other candidates make promises, I have already done it for 20+ years. I will continue to apply the law fairly to all those who appear before me and to hold lawbreakers accountable. I support the participation of Blair County in the Regional Veterans Court. I worked with Judge Tim Sullivan, CYF and Blair County Superintendents to establish a Truancy Court and will work to re-establish it if I am successfully elected.

I will continue to work hard on behalf of the taxpayers of Blair County to run an efficient court at the County level. There is no backlog in my Court.

Seelye: I look forward to working with the team of judges in Blair County to continue to look for ways to further improve efficiency within the courthouse. Efficient government, as it relates to the courts, not only responsibly saves taxpayer dollars, but also provides litigants prompt disposition of their cases. I also expect to assist in implementing the new regional Veterans Court. I will administer my courtroom in a manner that ensures the litigants, attorneys, and citizens feel heard and understood. Everyone who enters my courtroom deserves, and will receive, respect and equal justice under the law.

What is the biggest problem facing this area right now?

Consiglio: While there are many problems facing the area, the fundamental problem is a loss of faith in the major institutions of society. That deficit of trust deepens when laws are applied differently to different people, or not at all; where hard work is seen as not being worth the effort or even punished; where taxpayers do not see a return on their investments to the public; where institutions like the family and religion are undermined by the government. Blair County is and always has been a wonderful place to live despite these problems. I’m committed to keeping it that way.

Miller: An overwhelming percentage of the individuals in the Blair County Prison have mental health / drug addiction issues. 2/3 of the parents in our country are concerned about the safety of their children in school and on our streets and throughout our communities. Drug addiction and opioids claim the lives of 14 Pennsylvanians every day.

I am honored to have the support and endorsement of Former Martinsburg Police Chief/Mayor Rich Brantner, Sheriff Jim Ott, former Sheriffs Mitch Cooper and Larry Field, retired Altoona City Police Chief Janice Freehling and retired State Police Lt. Colonel/former Logan Township Police Chief Tim Mercer.

Seelye: The biggest problem facing our court system is the lack of mental health services and programs available for defendants. Without the necessary mental health resources, individuals are more likely to reoffend and less likely to rehabilitate. Due to the lack of services, our county prison has become the de facto mental health provider, despite not being provided the resources to address these needs. Often, defendants have other cases within our court system including custody, support, divorce and abuse cases. Judges are then faced with addressing these mental health issues in areas of law that also do not have adequate resources.

How will you help to solve that problem?

Consiglio: A Judge cannot solve all of the problems in society, but must be able to communicate—through actions and decisions—that when cases come before the Court they will be handled professionally, ethically, fairly, and expeditiously. People must have a sense that when they come before the Court, they will receive due process of law and be able to respect the institution of the Court regardless of outcome. In that way, a Court can instill a belief that, at least in the justice system, there is hope..

Miller: As Judge, I was assigned numerous county-wide drug sweeps and Grand Jury cases involving drug rings bringing in multi-million dollars of illegal drugs into Blair County. I have a proven judicial track record of protecting our children, families and communities and holding lawbreakers accountable.

In addition to participation in the Regional Veterans Court, I would like Blair County to look into the establishment of a Mental Health Court. Statistics indicate almost 65% of participants complete the program successfully that results in a 181% increase in employment. I am presently working to establish a Drug Court Program at the Blair County District Courts.

Seelye: As a practicing attorney in Blair County, I have observed the impact mental illness has on local courts. According to studies, the number of defendants with serious, untreated mental illnesses in the criminal justice system has drastically increased in recent years. I look forward to collaboratively working towards implementing a mental health specialty court, which would synergize key judicial system officials with leaders in the mental health system to develop specialized, judicially-supervised treatment programs. This will not only alleviate the strain on the prison system, but provide individuals with the help they need to reduce recidivism.

Why are you running?

Consiglio: I am running for Judge because all that I love is in this County and rather than complain, I want to confront the problems and issues that we all face. As an attorney, I believe that the best way that I can do that—at least from a professional standpoint—is to serve my fellow citizens as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. I believe in this County and its people and I want to maintain the values that I was taught from a young age and which I believe best serve every person in this community.

Miller: I have served as a Blair County District Judge for almost 21 years. I am seeking the position of Blair County Judge to continue my work to protect the children, families and communities of Blair County. I have a proven judicial track record of protecting the innocent and holding lawbreakers accountable. My work as Judge has been recognized at the state level as I was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to the Minor Judiciary Education Board and appointed Chairman of the Board by the Supreme Court my final year.

Seelye: My family has chosen to both live and work in Blair County. I have spent my entire career practicing law in Blair County and have represented thousands of Blair County residents. I am called to public service and have committed myself to serving our community. I am running to keep our families safe, to protect our constitutional freedoms, and to bring my extensive experience to the bench. Every case the next Judge will handle involves an area of law I have practiced on a daily basis for the last 16 years. I am prepared to serve you on day one.