Hafer drops House bid

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March 10, 2010

BY MIKE FAHER The Tribune-Democrat Wed Mar 10, 2010, 11:27 PM EST

In a surprise move, prominent Democrat Barbara Hafer has dropped out of the race to succeed the late congressman John Murtha.

Hafer’s announcement came less than a day after she had filed papers to appear on the May 18 primary ballot. And on Tuesday evening, the Indiana resident had told The Tribune-Democrat that she “will go forward” with her campaign.

But Hafer on Wednesday said she decided to abandon her bid because the Democratic Party clearly is backing former Murtha District Director Mark Critz.

“This obviously isn’t my race,” she said.

Hafer’s departure leaves three Democrats still in the mix besides Critz.

Two of those three candidates have Johnstown ties: Ed Cernic Jr. of West Taylor Township, who is Cambria County’s controller, and Ron Mackell Jr., a Johnstown native who now is a Texas lawyer.

Also running is Democrat Ryan Bucchianeri of Monongahela, a Navy veteran and businessman.

Critz, a Johnstown resident, did not have much name recognition among voters when he announced his campaign two weeks after Murtha’s Feb. 8 death. But the Democratic field has narrowed as Critz has rapidly gained support.

Mark Singel, a Westmont resident who had served as a state senator and lieutenant governor, dropped out of the congressional race one day after Critz was endorsed by Murtha’s widow, Joyce.

The former congressional aide gained more momentum Monday when he was overwhelmingly selected to run as the Democratic candidate in a May 18 special election that will decide who serves the remainder of Murtha’s unexpired term.

That vote by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s executive board came after party leaders from within the 12th Congressional District overwhelmingly had backed Critz at a Saturday meeting.

Many expect that special-election backing to also provide a big boost to Critz’s efforts to win a full, two-year term in Congress. Hafer shares that sentiment.

“I think (Critz) has the inside track,” she said Wednesday.

She also acknowledged that she was “light” in the number of petition signatures she had gathered for the primary election.

Reports said Hafer had 1,013 signatures, only 13 more than the minimum number required to get on the ballot. Hafer told The Tribune-Democrat that said she believed she had 1,058.

Either way, such low numbers would have left her vulnerable to challenges that might have led to her removal from the ballot.

But Hafer contends that was not a big factor in her decision to drop out of the race.

“The issue really is, (Critz) got those two endorsements, which are huge,” she said.

Hafer had taken several jabs at Critz in recent days, but Critz on Wednesday issued a statement praising her for years of public service.

“She would have been a formidable challenger and I respect her decision,” Critz said.

“Now is the time for us to come together and do what’s best for our district – working hard to bring jobs and economic recovery to western Pennsylvania. I wish Barbara all the best in her future endeavors.”

Days after he departed from the race, Singel endorsed Critz. But Hafer was not making any similar commitment on Wednesday.

“I will certainly look around and stay active in the process,” she said.

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