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Singel: ‘Bring it on’ (Updated)
Former Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel formally kicked off his campaign to replace the late Congressman John Murtha on Friday, adding another high-profile name to the list of contenders in the 12th Congressional District.
Singel made his announcement in his native Johnstown, where Murtha was a political icon. He was seen as a potential candidate from the moment that Murtha passed away last week, and now joins former state treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer as another top-tier candidate as Democrats try to hold the seat.
“My first love has always been public service,” Singel told pa2010.com in a phone interview. “With the untimely death of Jack Murtha, it occurred to me that there are very few people with the knowledge of how Jack worked and the things he did.”
Singel, who will be circulating petitions to get on the primary ballot while also seeking the party’s nod to run in the special election to be held the same day, framed himself as the candidate best positioned to run what is sure to be a grueling campaign under a national spotlight.
“The campaign is going to be intense,” he said. “This is going to be a marquee race, with a lot of pressure from all corners, and I’ve been through that numerous times. I’m willing to stand up to all comers and say ‘bring it on.’
“The Democrats cannot afford to lose this race,” he added, “and I believe of the names that have been floated, I’m the most viable candidate.”
It’s a theme he sounded earlier in the day during his announcement.
“This election has national, state and local implications,” Singel said, according to The Tribune-Democrat. “It is critical that the work begun by John Murtha be continued.” He called Murtha a “mentor and a friend.”
Singel served in the state Senate before becoming Lieutenant Governor under Bob Casey, briefly serving as acting governor when Casey was ill in 1993. He has run his own lobbying firm in Harrisburg since 2005. In a district full of more conservative Democrats and Republicans, Singel emphasized that he’s not an ideologue.
“I happen to be one of those people who thinks we need to stop yelling at each other,” he said. “I am a moderate, I am open to all kinds of view points from both parties and from all ideologies.”
February 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Tags: Barbara Hafer, John Murtha, Mark Singel, PA-12
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Larry
Feb 19th, 2010
Bring it on? Eww. Seems like the type of guy to replace a crook like Murtha.
STEELBLITZ1
Feb 19th, 2010
This guy seems to have some baggage. Im not sure he is the most viable candidate. From what i remember before, singel was kind of a dud.
Jim
Feb 19th, 2010
Will PA2010 get rid of that stupid 12th district poll that has Buccianeri way ahead of everyone else? He won’t win. He won’t get the nomination. He’s lucky to get on the ballot. I don’t have anything personal against the guy, but it’s a joke for all these people to be talking him up, considering 99% of the people pushing this clown probably don’t even live in the 12th. These are just liberals freaks from the philly burbs daydreaming that some liberal will win in western pa. Not going to happen.
WESTPADEM6
Feb 19th, 2010
yeah… i agree Jim …totally.
Im from the 12th and i can say the candidates so far i know for sure as follows.
Hafer
Singel
Cernic
Mackell
Bucchianeri
i suspect there will be a few others too actually.
3 people from Johnstown… tisk tisk. Everyone knows from westmoreland and Indiana, any time they went to Johnstown they got screwed by their “homer refs” who cheated. This isnt anything different.
Will
Feb 19th, 2010
The 12th Congressional District, obviously includes a sprawling territory, well beyond Johnstown – no longer the center of the 12th. The district will vanish after the 2010 Census and reapportionment absorbs the territory with Altmire, Murphy, Doyle and/or Dalkempher. The district needs a fresh new face on the ballot in the meantime, perhaps reaching out to a Westmoreland County candidate. Your thoughts?
Karl Jacobson
Feb 20th, 2010
The Reason Singel loves public service is that he loves PUBLIC MONEY Singel did nothing as lt governor and will do nothing if he wins this seat which he won’t Go Hafer!
The Real Murtha Legacy
Feb 20th, 2010
Will all the Democratic Candidates have to lie about the Marines serving in the war as did John Murtha?
STEELBLITZ1
Feb 20th, 2010
Karl-
Actually im inclined to agree w you on that one. Singel was somewhat of a lame dud.
Will-
if the other counties were smart, theyd pick someone who could maybe take on Murphy in a couple years. We know that redistricting will be cutting the 12th, 18th or 17th aside from all the other redrawing. That said, if i was in westmoreland id support hafer. Supporting singel wouldnt be in westmoreland or any of the other countiues best interest.
anon liberal
Feb 22nd, 2010
i highly doubt mark singel is running for the ‘public money’. his lobbying / consultant firm already lists a plethora of contracted work, and a full staff, and likely nets an income more than the salary of a u.s. congressman. he would be risking a lot if he chooses to stay in this race, and voters should be mindful of that.
in fact, it is probably in his best interest to highlight that point. mark singel is running to be a statesman, voting independently on issues that are in the best interests of his home town and district, and is willing to accept a cut in salary, as well as the possibility of redistricting out of existence in the future.
in my opinion he is the most qualified, and politically connected to both state and national polticians of anyone running in the race, which is what the district needs right now in murtha’s wake. … and in a race that is shaping up to be dominated by inexperienced businessmen / veterans, and political party flip-floppers.
Brett
Feb 22nd, 2010
Anon liberal, what are taking! Singel is an opportunist and wants POWER,plus he can have others run his firm for him. He is a lobbyist, we do not need anymore of that ilk in public government.
purifypolitics
Feb 22nd, 2010
power? really? he already has, so-called ‘power’,
“He was named to the PoliticsPA list of “Sy Snyder’s Power 50″ list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2003.[4]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Singel
this is about something else entirely.
if you happen to meet such a statesmen some day, you might understand.
i like his recent statements.
“These are serious times that require serious leadership.”
“The people are restless. They do not believe that anyone is really on their side. It’s time for us to stop yelling at each other and start listening.”
Brett
Feb 22nd, 2010
Purify, power referring to inside govt, which is even more connected than lobby power, so you love him, I understand.