Candidate for
Judge; Court of Common Pleas; District 5; Republican, Democratic Party

I am a lifelong resident of Allegheny County raised in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Morningside by my father Daniel J. Konieczka, Sr. a retired Pittsburgh Police Officer and my mother Sheila (McIntyre) Konieczka. As the eldest of eight children I learned early on about responsibility looking after my siblings Mary, Lisa, Sheila Marie, Rose, Eric, Jerome and Peter. I am very proud of my family and what they have accomplished in their respective professions and in raising their families here in Western Pennsylvania.

In 1978 I graduated from Central Catholic High School and continued my educational experience in the Oakland area by attending the University of Pittsburgh both as an undergraduate and as a law student. I paid my own way through college and law school by earning money each summer employed with the Pittsburgh's Parks and Recreation Department.

I followed in my father's footsteps in two distinct ways. One, like my father I married a 100% Irish woman, Maureen Barrett nearly 25 years ago. She is my best friend and provides a safe harbor when life's storms try to sweep me out to sea. There is no one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with other than my beautiful wife, Maureen. We reside in Shaler Township and have done so since 1992. The second path similar to my dad was in his public service as a Pittsburgh Police Officer for nearly thirty years. He took an oath to serve and protect which he faithfully upheld during his career. His last active duty day as a Pittsburgh Police Officer was the very day I interviewed with the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office before being hired thirty days later. It wasn't until recently that I realized that my father in April 1987 passed on the torch of law enforcement for me to carry on the tradition of public service.

In May 1987 I began my career as a prosecutor in the general trial unit prosecuting cases of all nature and was promoted to the Narcotics Unit within 18 months. There I concentrated on prosecuting drug traffickers peddling drugs on the streets of our communities. In 1996 I was sworn in as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to assist in the investigation, indictment and prosecution of gang activity, specifically the LAW (Larimer Avenue + Wilkinsburg) gang. This joint effort involved several Assistant United States Attorneys, the FBI along with other federal and local law enforcement agencies. The LAW gang and its adversaries plagued our streets with drugs and violence until fifty-five (55) members were indicted, arrested, convicted and sentenced. It was shortly after this that I realized a prosecutor could have a profound positive impact in a community.

Besides appearing in courtrooms hundreds of times as a prosecutor, I also served in several supervisory capacities within the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office. Those included General Trial supervisor, Pretrial/ARD/PDQ supervisor, Expedited PDQ supervisor and finally supervisor of the Violent Crime, Firearm and Narcotics unit. In addition to these duties I also provided legal counsel to the multijurisdictional Violent Crime & Firearms Task Force (VCTF) comprising of Pittsburgh Police Detectives, Allegheny County Deputy Sheriffs, Allegheny County Detectives and District Attorney Detectives all under the direction of the Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr.. For the past decade I also provided legal instruction to all police officers seeking entry into the District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET) dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of drug traffickers throughout Allegheny County. I also serve as an instructor for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars which every attorney is required to attend in order to maintain good-standing as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.

I retired from the District Attorney's Office on February 4, 2011 to embark on a new endeavor by seeking to become a judge for the Court of Common Pleas. This decision was made after repeated urging from colleagues, friends and many police officers each telling me that I should run for judge because of my knowledge, experience and disposition.

I enter this election as a political novice but with a firm belief that I am qualified and would serve our community with common sense, consistency and conviction.