State Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, is thinking about challenging U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy next year in the 18th Congressional District.

Logan, a former Monroeville mayor who's in his second term in Harrisburg, said yesterday he has set up an exploratory committee "to consider running for the 18th District," the seat now held by Murphy, a Republican from Upper St. Clair.

Logan, 34, said that having the committee will allow him to contact officials in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., to gauge the chances of his candidacy for the U.S. House and to begin raising money.

He said he opposes the changes President Bush wants to make in Social Security.

Logan said the local congressman also must do more to make sure federal firefighting grants go to departments that need them for important items, such as new trucks.