Former Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mark Singel to run for John Murtha’s House seat

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Former Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mark Singel says he’ll run for the 12th Congressional District seat made open by the death of John Murtha.

Singel, a Democrat, was a state senator from 1981 to 1987 before becoming lieutenant governor under Gov. Robert Casey.

Singel is a Johnstown native and announced his candidacy there. That was Murtha’s hometown.

The special election to fill the rest of Murtha’s term will be held as part of Pennsylvania’s May 18 primary. Also decided that day will be the Democratic and Republican nominees for November’s general election to decide who will serve a full two-year term in the seat.

Former Pennsylvania treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer has also said she will run, provided Murtha’s widow, Joyce, does not.

Murtha died Feb. 8 after complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

-- Associated Press