By BERNIE HORNICK
A Johnstown native who’s a lawyer in San Antonio said Monday he intends to challenge U.S. Rep. John Murtha in the Democratic primary in May.
Ron Mackell Jr., 49, shied from criticizing Murtha or his job performance.
“I respect Mr. Murtha so much,” Mackell said from Texas, though he said the congressman “is at the end of his career.”
“Now, at this point in our history, we are with the wave of change that is sweeping our country,” said Mackell, an avowed supporter of President Barack Obama. “There are things more important than money or more important than me.”
Curiously, a postcard that Mackell’s campaign is passing around concerning a campaign kickoff Jan. 15 at the Inclined Plane in Johnstown makes no mention of party affiliation.
And references to the Democratic Party are scant on his Web site, www.ronmackell.com.
Mackell insists he’s not ashamed of running as a Democrat.
“The party I’m associating myself with is less important than my values,” Mackell said. “The (Democratic) party stands more for the common man than big business, and who are we here if not the common man.”
Murtha’s campaign had no formal response to the new challenge.
Mackell was a staff writer for The Tribune-Democrat from 1986-95.
He left the area in 2002 but said family members in the Boswell area are assisting in his campaign.
“Let’s get away from the politics of cutting each other’s throats, running filibusters to stop legislation, or using office as a platform for self-aggrandizement,” he said.
But Mackell may be open to the claim that he’s a carpetbagger – someone from outside the 12th Congressional District who just wants to use Greater Johnstown for its votes.
“I have Johnstown so engrained in me, I welcome the challenge that I’m a carpetbagger,” he said.
“Johnstown is my home. It’s one of those passions.”
Mackell’s Web site said he is engaged to a woman named Elides, a native of Puerto Rico.
Others who have expressed interest in running for Murtha’s seat in 2010 include Democrat Ryan Bucchianeri of Monongahela and Republicans William Russell of Johnstown and Tim Burns of Eighty Four, Washington County.
