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Tammy Alonso's Blog

Tammy Alonso's Blog

Left of Centre

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Critz? Really?

I was just a bit surprised when I received the breaking news Saturday that local Democrats in the 12th Congressional District, had voted to support Mark Critz, a longtime aide to the late Congressman John Murtha, as their preferred nominee for the special election to serve out the remainder of Murtha’s term. This less than two days after reports surfaced that Critz once served as the business manager and bookkeeper for a now-defunct, Johnstown-based, family-owned concrete company that racked up a number of federal and state tax liens during his tenure there.

If the responses from commenters on pa2010.com are any indication, voters are split, at best, as to whether to give Critz the benefit of the doubt or string him up as just another crooked politician. And those results simply aren’t good enough to guarantee a win in a special election coming up in only two months.

Critz has been reluctant to address these and other charges leveled against him, saying that time is short, with the selection process in full swing and set to culminate when the state party’s executive committee makes a final pick Monday. Indeed, it took him nearly 24 hours to respond to requests for comment from pa2010.com on the tax lien story, and when he finally did, he simply reiterated a statement given earlier to other news outlets.

Critz has promised to provide answers to all questions “soon,” but he doesn’t have time for soon.

Time is also short for the executive committee, and they need those answers before making their selection. Is Critz an electable candidate? Should they go with someone else?

Maybe local Democratic leaders in the district voted with their hearts, believing that a longtime Murtha lieutenant was the right choice to make, and the one person who could best carry on his legacy. Maybe they were responding to perceived slights to Murtha by opponent Barbara Hafer. Maybe, as some have suggested in comments posted to this site, the whole process was rigged from the get-go to favor Critz.

Whatever the case, I think, and I’m sure many would agree, that the best and most important honor to grant Congressman Murtha would be to retain his seat for Democrats. And to do that, Democrats must choose the best person for the job.

share001btn Critz? Really?

March 8, 2010 at 8:00 am

--Tammy Alonso

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comments [8] | post a comment

  1. STEELBLITZ1

    Mar 8th, 2010

    I agree Tammy-

    This is very damaging for critz. Then to make it worse he lied to the Post Gazette over his tenure.

  2. Ted MacIntosh

    Mar 8th, 2010

    Critz didn’t own that company, nor was he an officer of it. It would be no different than sombody working for Wal-Mart and the company not paying payroll taxes.

    Critz had nothing to do with it. These allegations are nothing more than the Hafer campaign resulting to desperate measures because she can’t win on her own name.

    The delegates have spoken and clearly selected Mark Critz. Let the people decide from here. The truth will come out and the system will work, and the truth is that Mark Critz is the ONLY qualified candidate to serve as Congressman in the 12th district.

  3. WESTPADEM6

    Mar 8th, 2010

    Yes,

    he was only the book keeper and business manager ted.

  4. Brett

    Mar 8th, 2010

    Correction to MacIntosh, A bookeeper and/or business manager is FULLY AWARE whether taxes are paid or not paid. Critz is culpable and it will bite him back in the campaign.

  5. WESTPADEM6

    Mar 8th, 2010

    And further….

    he compares Parkins business entities to massive giant walmart. Parkins were essentially all much more closely held entities. That is quite obvious.

  6. Mark S.

    Mar 8th, 2010

    Mark Critz is not and has not been a politician…even though he has worked for a powerful one. Mark has been a truly committed public servant. He has always had the best interest of the communities at heart in his work for Murtha.

    I am a Republican who has not always liked aspects of murtha, Inc. but I have worked with him on many issues over the yeaars and can attest to his character and ethics.

    Why must we look to want to destroy personally anyone who takes the initiative to serve in this capacity.

  7. Brett

    Mar 8th, 2010

    To Mark S,

    Because he is corrupt.

  8. Marylou

    Mar 9th, 2010

    Hafer wants to destroy him because he got in her way.

    SHE ONLY WANTS TO TURN THE SEAT REPUBLICAN..

    It is sickening that she is in our party….wasting money fighting with each other. She had her shot…she is so “vetted” that she should have been better at it…she simply was not.

    It is over for her. over.

    Locals want Critz, State wants Critz, labor wants critz, Mrs. Murtha wants critz, Singel wants Critz……..NOBODY wants Barbara. We dont need THREE Republicans- Hafer, Burns, and Russel.

    Time for her to face it. If she doesn’t quit now…she has demonstrated it for sure that she wants to hurt the party.

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