Despite a request from one of the candidates for Lehighton Area School District’s vacant board seat, Carbon County Judge Roger N. Nanovic said Tuesday he would not recuse himself from making an appointment.

Frank Tamburri, one of 11 people seeking appointment to the board, cited what he believed were several potential conflicts for Nanovic, including his granddaughter’s possible future attendance at Lehighton schools and the judge’s relationship with district solicitor William Schwab.

Tamburri’s attorney, Paul Rossi, said the recusal request was “generated by a segment of the community that feels they were neglected by the old school board and are distrustful of institutions in this community.”

Nanovic called the accusations serious and calling into question his integrity and honesty.

“I take these as extremely serious accusations and I don’t know what basis there is to make them,” Nanovic said.

Nanovic’s colleagues, Judge Joseph J. Matika and Judge Steven R. Serfass both recused themselves from hearing the vacancy case.

Serfass has a family member who teaches in the district and both he and his wife previously represented sitting board member David Bradley.

Matika, meanwhile, said he has a sister who is a teacher in the district, leading to his recusal.

“My granddaughter is not quite 2 years old,” Nanovic said Wednesday, “and I don’t even know if she will attend the district. That is up to her parents. I don’t see how a 2-year-old child who is not currently attending the district influences anything.”

On his relationship with Schwab, Nanovic said there is no socialization between the two.

“Mr. Schwab is a member of the Carbon County Bar Association, and that is the extent of my relationship with him,” Nanovic said. No ex parte communications took place, and if he had attempted, I would have shut him down.”

Two people did attempt to speak with Nanovic about the case.

The judge described an encounter where a resident approached him while he was shopping at Sam’s Club and when a commissioner wanted to talk to him about the case.

“Both times, I shut the person down immediately,” Nanovic said. “I can’t have my judicial integrity impeded.”

Nanovic said he would make an appointment before Lehighton’s next school board meeting on March 26.