By Mike Faher
LATROBE — Tim Burns, a Johnstown native making his first political run, will be the Republican candidate seeking to serve the remainder of the late John Murtha’s unfinished term.
Burns, who now lives in the Washington County community of Eighty Four, was chosen Thursday by Republicans within the 12th Congressional District to appear on a May 18 special-election ballot.
Among 131 votes cast at a Republican convention held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Burns won 85 and easily defeated the only other GOP nominee – William Russell of Johnstown, who had 46.
And, after entering the packed convention to a round of applause just after 9 p.m., Burns wasted no time in launching his campaign with a reference to his predecessor.
“This is a great opportunity we have in front of us,” Burns said.
“We have an opportunity to put a common-sense conservative in a seat that has long been held by a political insider.”
Cambria County’s 26 conferees, along with Somerset County’s eight, all supported Burns.
Thursday’s GOP selection sets up a special-election contest between Burns and Mark Critz, a Johnstown resident and Murtha’s former district director.
Critz was selected for the special ballot Monday by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s executive board, easily besting runner-up Barbara Hafer, who since has dropped out of the race.
Critz has gained the endorsement of Murtha’s widow, Joyce, as well as that of Democratic leadership. And the 12th Congressional District remains a Democratic stronghold in terms of voter registration.
But in the absence of Murtha, it is clear that Republicans see an opportunity to gain control of a district they have not held since 1973.
“We will win this seat back,” Rob Gleason, who chairs both the Cambria County and Pennsylvania Republican committees, told conferees before voting began Thursday night.
“What we are doing tonight is very serious business,” Gleason said. “The eyes of the nation are on the 12th Congressional District.”
And all eyes, at least within the Republican circles, now will be on Burns. After graduating from Greater Johnstown High School and IUP, he founded a pharmacy-technology business in 1992 and sold it 11 years later, making him a millionaire.
In his speech before the nomination vote Thursday, Burns touched on his support for the Tea Party movement, his opposition to the current plans for health-care reform, energy independence and the national deficit.
He said he entered the race because “I’m worried about the future of this country for my kids.”
Russell, who spent his career in the Army, ran a spirited but unsuccessful campaign against Murtha in 2008.
“We’re not surprised,” Russell said in a statement issued after Thursday’s vote.
“The party doesn’t want a candidate that’s connected to the people, they want one with money. While unfortunate, this is what we expected.”
Along with Burns and Russell, three other Republicans asked conferees for the special-election nomination: Ron Robertson of Johnstown, Bill Choby of Latrobe and Luke Summerfield of Indiana County.
But only Burns and Russell received nominations before the final vote Thursday night.
Both Burns and Russell remain in the running for the May 18 primary election, which will decide who wins the GOP nomination for a chance to be elected to a full two-year term in the 12th Congressional District.
On the Democratic ticket in the primary election, Critz will be joined by Ron Mackell Jr., a Johnstown native who lives in Texas; Ed Cernic Jr., a West Taylor Township resident who serves as Cambria County controller; and Ryan Bucchianeri of Monongahela, a Navy veteran and businessman.
