GREENE COUNTY (12th DISTRICT) PA — The special election to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, who died Feb. 8 of complications from gall bladder surgery, will be held simultaneously with the May 18 primary election.
Scheduling the special election to coincide with the primary will save taxpayers money, Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday. If the special election was to be held separately, it would cost counties in the 12th District an estimated $683,000.
There will be two elections related to the 12th District seat in the primary. The first will be the special election pitting a Democrat against a Republican to serve out the rest of Murtha's term, which ends in early January. The second will be the party primaries to nominate candidates to run in the November general election, through which voters will elect a U.S. representative to a two-year term that begins next January. Those primaries could have multiple candidates.
Murtha, of Johnstown, died at age 77, following a 36-year career in the House.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the governor must issue a writ of election. Pennsylvania's election code requires that the governor act within 10 days to set the election date, and that the date must not be sooner than 60 after he issues the writ of election. Political parties will select candidates for the special election, according to party rules
The 12th District comprises all of Greene County and parts of eight other counties - Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland.
Today's date is:
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
