Candidates reflect on journey

(Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series on the 12th Congressional District race.)

By MICHELLE GANASSI
michelleg@dailyamerican.com

In January the 12th Congressional District race was a small blip on the political radar.

U.S. Rep. John Murtha planed to seek another term. Two Democrats had come out to challenge him and two Republicans were vying for the party nod. But before the campaign got into full swing, the veteran congressmen entered a hospital for routine gallbladder surgery.

The landscape of the race took a drastic change on Feb. 8, when Murtha died after suffering complications from that surgery.

Now voters in the 12th District will choose someone to fill the remainder of his term.

The Democratic Party was the first to pick its candidate — former Murtha economic development director Mark Critz, 48. Five days later, the Repu...