Hafer to enter race for Murtha's U.S. House seat
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Barbara Hafer in 2003
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Barbara Hafer, former state auditor general and state treasurer, confirmed Monday that she has decided to enter the race to succeed Rep. John Murtha in the 12th Congressional District.
Ms. Hafer, who lives in Indiana, Pa., told the Post-Gazette last week that she was considering the race. On Monday, she said that after conferring with Democratic leaders in the district, she decided to go forward. She said, however, that one thing that would change her mind against a candidacy would be if the congressman's widow, Joyce Murtha, were to decide to run for the seat.
"I wouldn't run against Joyce," she said.
Mrs. Murtha's potential candidacy has been the object of speculation, but she has not commented on any political issues while her family prepares to bury the veteran congressman today. Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Ceraso, former Lt. Gov. Mark Singel and state Sen. John Wozniak have also been mentioned as potential Democratic candidates for the seat.
Mr. Wozniak said Sunday that he would not have any statement on his plans until after the funeral.
Ms. Hafer said she received a generally positive response in a canvass of Democratic leaders in the district.
"I've been talking to people this last week," she said. "Until I talked to the majority of the committee people, I couldn't make a decision."
Ms. Hafer said she was optimistic about her chances for the seat in part because she ran well in the district's communities in her campaigns for statewide office. Ms. Hafer served two terms as state treasurer and another two terms as auditor general. She is also a former Allegheny County commissioner.
In 2002, she considered a run for governor as a Republican, but the party's hierarchy was committed to Mike Fisher, who was appointed to the federal bench after his loss to Gov. Ed Rendell. Ms. Hafer ended up endorsing Mr. Rendell in the 2002 race. Subsequently, she changed her registration to Democratic.
In the 2006 election cycle, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tried to recruit Ms. Hafer as challenger to Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, in the adjoining 18th District. Ms. Hafer considered a run but eventually decided against it. Her daughter, Beth Hafer, sought the 18th District seat in 2008 but lost in the Democratic primary.
Ms. Hafer said she planned to be a candidate both for the special election to fill the balance of Mr. Murtha's term, which extends until the end of 2010, and for the normal primary for the full term that will be determined in the November general election.
Mr. Rendell has yet to officially choose a date for the special election, but it is expected to coincide with the May 18 primary.
William Russell, who lost to Mr. Murtha in 2008, is again seeking the Republican nomination along with businessman Tim Burns.
First Published February 16, 2010 12:00 am
