Mascara in the 12th
Democrats in the newly configured 12th Congressional District have a tough choice to make. Reapportionment created a contest between two strong incumbent congressmen who have served well and with distinction. Parts of Fayette County for nearly a decade have come to know and respect both John Murtha and Frank Mascara. But only one can win on Tuesday and the choice must be made.
The Herald-Standard recommends Rep. Mascara because the newspaper believes that he better understands and will represent the interests of southwestern Pennsylvania in a district that stretches into the central part of the state. The 12th now includes Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Indiana, Somerset and Cambria counties. Murtha’s base is to the east, and while his district was expanded 10 years ago during the last redistricting to include some of Fayette County, his presence has not been as strong here as that of Mascara’s.
Murtha has had little personal involvement with Fayette County, visiting infrequently and delegating constituent requests to lower staff members. Until this hotly contested race, few had Murtha’s ear.
While it is true that Murtha enjoys tremendous power and clout in Washington, D.C., and holds key positions gained through 27 years in Congress, Mascara is no slouch.
The former Washington County commissioner, if returned to office, will become the ranking Democrat on the transportation committee that will form the new transportation bill that will consider funding for completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway. This is the first prime opportunity to bring substantial federal funding into the project and should not be squandered away.
Mascara has been a hands-on congressman, returning nearly every weekend to the district, where he stays close to his constituents and works to solve their problems.
Both men have a track record of creating jobs, with Mascara’s Southpointe the most visible success. And both have brought home the bacon. Are Murtha’s pockets deeper? Probably, but who can say that after Tuesday he will continue to steer it this way?
If Fayette County Democrats looked at both men’s records, they will find that both congressmen have served well but Mascara has come through more often.