Submitted by Readers
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I don’t know where Mark Critz is getting his information about Tim Burns, but people need to know that a lot of it is just plain wrong.
I worked for the company that Burns started, and I never saw any outsourcing to foreign companies.
In fact, when I started at TechRx, there were fewer than 30 employees; by the time I left in 2002, the company had grown to more than 400 employees.
Burns sold the company to a larger corporation that helped fund that growth. And that “growth” meant jobs for Pittsburghers.
Eight years have passed since I left Burns’ company and I am still working on and supporting “his” software at another company (a mail service pharmacy that is a former client of Burns’ pharmacy software company). In fact, Burns’ statement that he created 400 jobs is actually an understatement because many more jobs resulted, both from the sale of the company and the sale of the source code to former clients.
Dr. Diana L. Repack
Moon Township
Ads targeting Critz white lies, half-truths
It’s the time of year when we hear that same hand-picked, cynical lady on TV. I’m talking about those commercials designed by professional political spin doctors to evoke the most negative emotions from us against their target.
You can call it innuendo, white lies or half-truths. They need to know that western Pennsylvanians are smarter than they think. We know a white lie is a lie and half- truths are not the whole truth.
They say Mark Critz was questioned and investigated. If he had been found complicit in wrongdoing, they would shout it from the rooftops.
The whole truth to their half-truth is that Critz was unnecessarily scrutinized, and his long record of public service to us, the people of his district, is clean.
As for Critz’s adversary, it is clear to me that he is selling himself as a pawn to the doom-talkers and nay-sayers in Washington. The scurrilous attacks funded by Tim Burns’ behind-the-scenes henchmen are designed to hide the inequities of their candidate and his platform. They believe we can’t figure this out.
I have known Critz for 10 years. I have worked with him on campaigns for the late Jack Murtha.
Critz will stand up for us always, and never put anything ahead of us. Take it from someone who knows him, not from the paid political character assassins.
Donald J. Griner
Johnstown
Aunt defends Burns on jobs, tax issues
My nephew, Tim Burns, grew up in Cambria County. He graduated from Johnstown High School and IUP.
He used his college degree to start a business in the basement of his home.
I remember how hard he worked building his own technology company, and how proud I was when he grew that company to 400 new jobs. That’s why it’s so upsetting to hear and see groups from Washington distort the facts and attack his record.
Tim did not ship jobs overseas. He created them here at home. After he sold his business to spend more time with his family, the company grew and hired even more employees.
And it’s wrong to say Tim will raise taxes by 23 percent. He signed a tax pledge against raising taxes and will work in Congress to cut income taxes.
I know Tim and I know he will make a great congressman.
Melanie A. Cowan
Upper Yoder Township
Critz endorsement was no surprise
What a surprise! The Tribune-Demo-crat supports Mark Critz in the upcoming election. Otherwise, this esteemed paper would have to change its name to The Tribune-Republican.
Fair and balanced is not its forte.
Because the newspaper printed this, though, I do give them a single kudo.
John Rossi
Upper Yoder Township
Time liberal left is given the boot
I was disappointed to see that the editorial board endorsed Mark Critz. Over the past several election cycles, the left-wing liberal Democratic leadership has had a strategy of running supposedly conservative Democrats in districts that have traditionally been conservative.
In many cases, these candidates have actually run to the right of the Republican in the race. Once the election is over, the so-called conservative Democrat moves to the left and votes with the liberal leadership.
If you go to Congress as a junior congressman and oppose Speaker Nancy Pelosi, you can say goodbye to anything for your district. As a so-called political insider, Critz knows this and is not being honest when he claims that he will be his own man.
I believe that in Critz we would have the liberal strategy at work again. If you are happy in the direction that the liberal left has taken this country, then by all means vote for Critz.
If, on the other hand, you want an end to the big spending, higher taxes, no control over our borders, and unrestricted control of our daily lives, then vote for Tim Burns.
William R. Peduzzi
Johnstown
Russell connected with voters in ‘12th’
In a May 2 letter, Robert Czarnek states, “Whether in the last congressional election you voted for John Murtha or Bill Russell, today you, your spouse and your children each owe more than $40,000 in national debt.”
True, if you voted for Murtha, you chose to support “this devastating agenda of the current administration.” But why does Czarnek believe Russell is part of this equation?
Russell ran a strong race against Murtha in 2008, winning 42 percent of the votes in a Democratic stronghold. If Russell had won, he would be building that better future for our children.
For the special election, the Republican establishment chose Tim Burns. This candidate represents business as usual and the Republican Party’s special interests.
I want the principled, conservative leadership that Russell would bring to the 12th district.
After 26 years defending our country, he knows how to lead in tough times. As a businessman, he knows what is needed to bring jobs to this region, and not be dependent on earmarks.
After retiring from the Army, Russell chose to live in Johnstown and raise his family here. He is connected with the voters of this district, not the party bosses.
Mary Alice Cloukey
Johnstown
