12th District special election set for primary day

In the 12th Congressional District, there will be two elections on May 18—the regular primary, and a special election to fill the rest of the late Congressman John Murtha’s term in Washington.

As expected, Gov. Ed Rendell announced Wednesday that the special election would be held the same day as the primary to save money. His office said scheduling it on a different day would cost taxpayers more than $680,000.

“At a time when all governments are trying to meet their challenges with reduced revenues,” Rendell said in a statement, “it would be unconscionable to force counties to spend money to hold an additional election which, by law, could be held little more than 30 days earlier.”