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The 12th: A race to watch

For those of you in Pennsylvania politics you have been living under a rock these past few weeks, it’s time to start brushing up on a race that is already in the spotlight of national news networks, newspapers and political junkies from all over the nation: the special election in southwestern Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.

First of all, this race is about the candidates. Our Republican candidate, Tim Burns, is the right leader to go to Washington to fight for the people of the 12th. As a business owner, Burns is the only candidate in the race that has actually created jobs.

On the other hand, his Democratic opponent, Mark Critz, is a career bureaucrat with a poor record on job creation. In his role as director of economic development for the district, he oversaw job creation in counties that saw an increase in their unemployment levels by at least 76 percent and in some cases up to 135 percent.

The battle lines in this race are drawn right down the middle. Big-government liberal versus fiscally-conservative job creator. Washington insider versus local business owner. Pelosi supporter versus someone who shares the strong values of the 12th District.

Speaking of the architect of government-run health care, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently hosted a fundraiser for Mark Critz 200 miles away from the 12th District in Washington, proving once again that when times get tough, Mark Critz is all too willing to turn to Beltway insiders to bail him out of trouble.

Hold onto your hats—we’re headed towards another critical election. This race will serve as yet another precursor to the oncoming Republican tidal wave this November.

April 24, 2010 at 3:53 pm

--Michael Barley

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