STRUTHERS — Jennifer J. Ciccone’s brief time as Struthers Municipal Court judge looks to be coming to an end with James Melone as apparent winner for the seat.

Melone, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court magistrate, was leading Ciccone 56% to 44% with most of the vote counted, according to unofficial results Tuesday from the Mahoning County Board of Elections.

“We are very pleased with the results,” Melone said. “We are grateful for the voters coming out and showing their confidence in me sitting as judge in Struthers Municipal Court. I’m overwhelmed by the support of my friends and family throughout this campaign. We ran an above-board campaign that everyone could be proud of.”

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Sept. 29 that Ciccone of Poland, the Republican nominee for the seat,would fill the vacant seat, effective Oct. 6.

The position was officially empty Sept. 29 with the resignation of Dominic R. Leone III, who lost the Democratic primary to Melone of Poland. Leone’s term was to expire Dec. 31.

Municipal court judicial candidates run in partisan primaries and then run without a party label in the general election in Ohio.

When her appointment was announced, Ciccone said she was asked four days before DeWine’s announcement by Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson if she would be interested in DeWine making her the judge. Following a video conference with the governor’s screening committee, she was named judge. It was an unusual move for DeWine as his office had indicated when it received Leone’s resignation Sept. 19 that the governor would not appoint a replacement.

That changed shortly after Johnson, who is highly influential among statewide Republicans, spoke to DeWine about Ciccone’s appointment.

DeWine has in place a process for appointing judges that usually takes months because of a deadline for applicants, screening committee interviews, background checks and a recommendation to the governor.

The court’s jurisdiction is Struthers, Lowellville, New Middletown, Springfield Township and Poland village and township.

The Mahoning County Bar Association two weeks ago deemed Melone “highly recommended” for the judicial position while Ciccone was “not recommended.”