Chesco judge victorious despite late smear effort

Despite an eleventh-hour, anonymous smear campaign, a Chester County district judge won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots Tuesday.

District Judge Rita A. Arnold of Downingtown defeated Don Skomsky, president of a West Chester engineering firm; each had cross-filed and appeared on both ballots. Arnold received 61 percent of the Republican vote and 57 percent of the Democratic total; Skomsky drew 38 and 41 percent, respectively.

Arnold had been the target of anonymous letters to voters accusing her of misusing her office. Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll said he initiated a criminal investigation of possible election-code violations after receiving complaints from leaders of both parties. - Kathleen Brady Shea