BY FRANK SOJAK
JOHNSTOWN — Johnstown native Tim Burns kicked off his bid for the special election for the 12th Congressional District at a Johnstown restaurant where he was a busboy years ago.
About 80 people attended the Wednesday evening event at Surf & Turf Inn, 100 Valley Pike.
Burns, a Washington County Republican, is seeking his party’s nomination for the special election to fill the remainder of Rep. John Murtha’s term and is running in the primary for nomination to a full term.
Other Republicans making bids for the special election are retired Army Lt. Col. William Russell of Johnstown and Bill Choby of Johnstown.
Russell also is running in the primary. Choby is not.
Burns, who delivered newspapers for The Tribune-Democrat as a boy, told the crowd he was kicking off his tour at the restaurant because it was where he had his first real job.
“I had a great experience here at the restaurant and growing up in Johnstown,” he said. “And growing up here, John Murtha was my congressman. So I have an appreciation for what he did for this district.
“And his untimely death was unfortunate. But I didn’t get in this race because of John Murtha. I got in this race because I am concerned about the future of this country.”
Burns said he believes the country and the district face severe and significant problems. He said he’s running to ensure that his two children, the children of others and future Americans have the opportunity to inherit a strong America, not a bankrupt one.
Burns, who said he is not happy with how the Democrats and Republicans are running the country, said the system in Washington is broken.
“We have to get Congress to focus on creating jobs, lowering taxes and fixing Washington for the future of our children,” he said.
Burns said he would work to improve the infrastructure in the district. A better highway network is needed to attract businesses to the region, he said.
He said the U.S. could solve its energy problems by using this region’s vast reserves of coal and natural gas to create jobs and stop reliance on foreign oil.
