Democrat Holds on to Murtha's Seat

It was a nail-biter, but democratic candidate Mark Critz held onto the seat formerly occupied by democratic powerhouse John Murtha. The 12th Congressional District went to Critz with 52.2% of the vote, compared to republican Tim Burns' 47.8%. Critz, former district director for Representative Murtha won a special election in May following Murtha's death in February. The 12th District consists of all of Greene County and parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. Burns, a businessman, also ran for and lost the special election to fill Murtha's seat. Asked how he managed to pull out a win with the rest of the country trending to the right, Critz credited the amount of time he spent in the district and the relationships he has built with officials and constituents both working for Murtha and in the few months he has already spent in Congress. He says he plans to work across the aisle in the newly Republican controlled House and says he'll be focused on remedying the economy and bringing jobs back to his district.

State Funding for Murtha, Specter Projects Criticized

Governor Ed Rendell is defending allocating 20 million dollars to projects named after Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman John Murtha.
Nearly every state department lost funding in this year’s budget, but an accompanying bond measure hands out 300 million dollars for construction projects across Pennsylvania.
That includes 10 million dollars for an Arlen Specter library at Philadelphia University, and the same amount for a John Murtha Policy Center in Johnstown. Murtha, the longest serving Congressman in Pennsylvania history, died in February. Specter, a 30 year member of the U.S. Senate, lost a primary election in May to Joe Sestak.
The two line items drew the ire of conservative lawmakers during weekend budget votes, but Rendell defends them.

"The Murtha project will help us in the long run because it’s technology. It’s going to be a technology center. The Specter library – it’s just a good construction project. It’s necessary. Philadelphia University, I know about it. I don’t live far from the campus. They could use an expansion and the Specter library will help them do just that."

Rendell points out the borrowed money can’t be used for operating expenses, so the 300 million dollars would not have restored any budget cuts. Still, critics point out that it is money the state is borrowing.
The bond measure was passed by both legislative chambers on Saturday, less than a day after its line items were made public.

Critz Wins Special Election

The former district director for long-time Congressman John Murtha of Johnstown will succeed his former boss. Democrat Mark Critz of Johnstown defeated Republican Tim Burns of Eighty-Four, Washington County and Libertarian Demo Agoris of Houston, Washington County in the special election in the 12th Congressional District. Critz received 53% of the vote, Burns 45% and Agoris 2%. Critz will serve out the last 7 months of the term of John Murtha who died in February.
Critz said he was humbled and honored by the victory....."But most of all, I am proud to stand before you as the next Representative of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District! The voters of this district won a great victory tonight. But it’s a bittersweet. Because we wouldn’t be here right now if Jack Murtha hadn’t left us too soon.
Throughout this campaign, I’ve thought about the many lessons Congressman Murtha taught me when I served as his director of economic development. He often said to me, “it’s about the work.” It is. And I’m going to work tirelessly every day in Congress for the families of Western Pennsylvania."

However, Critz is not done with Burns. There will be a rematch in the November General Election because Critz won the Democratic Primary and Burns the Republican Primary to seek a full 2-year term.

Special Election & Primary Combined

The 12th Congressional race in Pennsylvania is two elections in one. Voters will select a candidate in the special election to serve out the term of the late John Murtha and will also nominate candidates to run for a full term in the fall election.
Listen to the report by WDUQ's Alexandria Chaklos