Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha -- under fire for steering controversial federal money to his district -- has a Navy veteran with a Harvard degree lining up to challenge him for the Democratic nomination next year.
The race for Pennsylvania's 12th District seat is heating up, with the announcement this week that veteran Ryan Bucchianeri, 34, is challenging Murtha for the Democratic nod. Two Republicans are also vying to run against Murtha.
"I invite the residents of Pennsylvania to continue to research the incumbent and ask if the current office holder, who has held this position the last 35 years, still truly represents the best interests of the people of Pennsylvania," Bucchianeri said.
Bucchianeri, of Monongahela, Pa., is targeting the 35-year incumbent, stressing that his Navy service, experience in private industry and youthful perspective would better serve voters in Pennsylvania's southwest corner.
Murtha, 77, has been battered lately on the propriety of federal spending he has steered toward the district, using his powerful position as chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on military spending.
Two Republicans, William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, and businessman Tim Burns, are already vying to run against him next year.
Murtha spent $3.6 million last year to defeat Russell, whose campaign spent $3.4 million, according to OpenSecrets.org. Bucchianeri said fundraising will be a "serious challenge" in the race.
It would be the first run for political office for Bucchianeri, who switched his party registration from independent to Democrat this year.
"I'm running for Congress to further my lifelong commitment to public service and responsibly address the unprecedented policy challenges we face today, here and abroad," he said.
Bucchianeri graduated in 1993 from Ringgold High School and in 1997 from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a placekicker for the Navy football team. After serving in active duty in the Middle East, Central America and Asia, he received a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 2005.
He retired from the Navy with the rank of lieutenant and worked for two years in New Jersey for military contractors Lockheed Martin. He left the company at the end of last year and returned to Monongahela. His father, Richard, is the superintendent of the South Park School District and runs Peno's Enterprises, the family's industrial park.
Lockheed Martin is one of Murtha's largest contributors, issuing his campaign almost $35,000 last year alone. Bucchianeri said he never did any work with the congressman while working for the company and he stopped short of criticizing Murtha directly in making his announcement this week.
E-mail Tim McNulty at tmcnulty(at) post-gazette.com.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Post new comment