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Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tim Barker wins Republican primary for York County District Attorney
Veteran prosecutor Tim Barker, appointed to fill out the term of former York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, has won election to the job he has held since January, defeating his Republican primary opponent, former Spring Garden Township Police Officer and attorney Jack Graybill II. With 100 percent of the vote reported, Barker had 65.44% of the vote to Graybill's 34.39% percent, according to unofficial returns reported by York County's elections office. The winner of the primary, barring an unprecedented write-in campaign in the fall election, will be the county's district attorney. No Democrats sought the office. Barker, who has served in the district attorney's office for 27 years and has served under three district attorneys, was appointed to the position at the beginning of the year, replacing Sunday when he was elected state Attorney General in 2024. Before being appointed to complete Sunday's term, Barker had been the top deputy in the office for decades, and under Sunday he served as point man for the office's public safety initiatives in addition to prosecuting cases. Now, he is seeking election to a full term in the office. In his time in office, Barker has handled many high-profile cases, including the prosecution of the 1969 York race riot cases in the early 2000s, homicides and, most recently, the investigation into the shooting at UPMC-Memorial. Previously: The 2 GOP candidates for York County District Attorney focus on the issue of experience His opponent, Jack Graybill II, also touted his experience. A U.S. Army veteran, Graybill had been a Spring Garden Township Police officer for 15 years – following in his father's footsteps and serving as member of the York County Drug Task Force – before graduating from Widener Law School and going into private practice. Barker campaigned on expanding the office's violent crime initiatives and seeking solutions to the vexing issue of juvenile crime. Graybill also touted his experience as a former police officer and a manager of his law firm, saying he would bring a fresh perspective to the office and the problems it faces, saying, "you can't think outside the box when you've never been outside the box." Barker countered, "He has no experience as a prosecutor, and I don't think he could identify the box even if it was right in front of him.' (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Barker wins Republican primary for York County PA District Attorney
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The 2 GOP candidates for York County District Attorney focus on the issue of experience
In the Republican primary race for York County District Attorney – which is essentially the race for the office since the winner will be unopposed by a Democrat in November – the issue both candidates mention most often is experience. Current District Attorney Tim Barker has it. He's been a prosecutor for 27 years, having served with three district attorneys, including his former boss, Dave Sunday, who he succeeded after Sunday was elected state Attorney General in 2024. Before being appointed to complete Sunday's term, he had been the top deputy in the office for decades, and under Sunday he served as point man for the office's public safety initiatives in addition to prosecuting cases. Now, he is seeking election to a full term in the office. In his time in office, Barker has handled many high-profile cases, including the prosecution of the 1969 York race riot cases in the early 2000s, homicides and, most recently, the investigation into the shooting at UPMC-Memorial. His opponent, Jack Graybill II, also touts his experience. A U.S. Army veteran, Graybill had been a Spring Garden Township Police officer for 15 years – following in his father's footsteps and serving as member of the York County Drug Task Force – before graduating from Widener Law School and going into private practice. He believes his experience qualifies him to be the top law enforcement official in York County. As a police officer, he had been both a witness and a victim in court. As a manager of his law practice – Kearney Graybill – he has had to manage a budget through the difficult times caused by the COVID pandemic, something that he believes would give him the kind of fiscal discipline to manage the district attorney's $12.7 million budget. He also said his management skills would help reduce the backlog of cases in the district attorney's office. Court records show that there are 590 cases that have remained open for more than a year, the highest since 2014 except during COVID. And he believes, to some extent, that Barker's experience is a detriment, not a qualification. 'I don't think there's any organization that can't be improved with new ideas,' he said. 'I would want to keep doing what works and improve the things we can improve.' He said, 'My purpose is not to talk bad about the D.A.'s office.' He said he just believes the office would benefit from 'a new vision.' 'I think I have that vision. I don't think you can think outside the box if you've never been outside the box.' Barker responded, 'I have no idea what box he's talking about. He has no experience as a prosecutor, and I don't think he could identify the box even if it was right in front of him.' The argument, as far as Barker is concerned is 'absurd.' 'Would you want a doctor with no experience to treat your heart disease?' he asked. Barker has heard Graybill's criticism of his experience and would have liked to respond during a debate. He is dismayed that the two candidates did not have a chance to do so. Barker said he welcomed a debate, but scheduling conflicts raised by Graybill prevented any hopes for it. Previously: York attorney and former cop announces his candidacy for GOP nod for district attorney Previously: Tim Barker announces he will seek a full four-year term as York County District Attorney On the issues, the candidates agree with the goals of the office, improving public safety by addressing the root causes of crime and reducing recidivism. And they both believe that the initiatives under Sunday have been effective and that they can be improved upon. Graybill believes 'new ideas and a new vision' could improve initiatives that, over the past few years, have resulted in a 30 percent reduction in crime in York County. Prevention programs and treatment courts have reduced crime and recidivism, but Graybill believes the initiatives could benefit from fresh leadership. Barker had been involved in those initiatives, and he believes that they can be expanded and improved upon to reduce crime even further, by 50 percent. Specifically, he said, he would boost efforts to reduce domestic violence. 'We have reduced gun violence and violent crime. But despite our efforts, we haven't had the same effect on domestic violence.' He prefers setting up systems that would provide early intervention in domestic violence cases, including protecting victims and offering treatment for offenders, an effort that would have an effect on violent crime overall. Barker also favors reforming the 'very frustrating' system of juvenile justice, to intervene before kids become adult offenders by working with police and school districts to focus the effort. Graybill agrees that programs that prevent crime and rehabilitate those accused of crimes are a priority, saying that the goal of the office should be to 'help the people you can help' and send those you can't to prison. Graybill, noting his service in the U.S. Army and as a police officer as experience that earned him the endorsement of the county's Fraternal Order of Police union, would institute an ongoing training program for prosecutors so that they are prepared to win big cases. Both Barker and Graybill identify as conservatives, but Barker said, 'Public safety is not an ideology. It's something the public demands from its leaders, to get it done.' Columnist/reporter Mike Argento has been a York Daily Record staffer since 1982. Reach him at mike@ This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Experience among issues in York County PA District Attorney race
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lancaster County police looking for ‘rare' stolen electric scooter
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Police are seeking assistance locating a rare electric scooter that was reportedly stolen in Lancaster County yesterday. According to Spring Garden Township Police, on April 21, a sage green Nami Blast Max S.E. 72-volt electric scooter was stolen from a house in the 1300 block of Lancaster Avenue in Spring Garden Township, York County. Police say the scooter was stolen without keys and with the immobilizer chip removed, so it should not be operable. According to a Facebook post from the dealer, the scooter is 'sage green' with an inverted front fork for better road shock absorption. The post says only 9 units will ever be made in this special green color in the Continental United States. Anyone with information about the theft and/or the person(s) responsible is asked to contact Officer Angel Rivera at 717-843-0851 or by email at arivera@ Tips can also be left for police via the tip feature on the department's CrimeWatch page. Tipsters can remain anonymous, per police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
