Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: The Pennsylvania (PA) Secretary of State has not official certified last Tuesday's primary elections. However, Republican candidate William "Bill" Russell is reporting a victory in his efforts to get on the ballot as the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania 12th Congressional District.Russell, a Lt. Colonel and decorated Desert Storm and Iraq War combat veteran and who was at the Pentagon on 9/11, returned home to run against Congressman John "Jack" Murtha. However during the filing period in PA, a candidate must submit a petition signed by enough voters to show that he is a viable candidate. Although Russell submitted enough signatures to be on the ballot, a legal challenge by two republicans allegedly beholden to Murtha resulted in Russell being denied the right to be on the primary ballot. Without a contender, Murtha, known as the "king of congressional pork," would have returned to Congress again without competition.
But fortunately in Pennsylvania, there is a big difference between signing a petition subject to review and criticism by "King" Murtha and the sanctity of the secrecy in the voting booths. Russell an experienced combat veteran did not give up. He launched a campaign for voters to write-in his name during the primary as the Republican candidate for 12th District US Representative. In PA, Russell needed at lease 1000 write-in votes from his fellow voters to be certified as the Republican candidate for the November elections.
The Russell campaign reports that unofficially over 4000 voters in the Republican primary wanted a choice in November and wrote -in William Russell's name as their candidate of choice. In addition, almost 1000 Democrats displeased with "King" Murtha also wrote in William Russell's name in the Democrat primary. With several National races on their primary ballot. PA County officials cannot certify the election results until 10 days have past to comply with the Federal law permitting additional time for absentee military ballots to be received and counted. Do you suppose those military absentee voters preferred Murtha who called them murders or Russell who served with them in honor?Even with this outpouring for a write-in candidate, the Pennsylvania Secretary of State media relations office could not confirm today the current estimated number of write-in ballots in the 12th Congressional District. Until release of the official results, one can only wonder what devious plots are underway by Porker Jack Murtha and his squealing cronies to protect his bacon.
