Critz bests Burns in 12th district

Democrat Mark Critz will follow in the footsteps of his late boss, U.S. Rep. John Murtha, as the representative for the 12th Congressional District.

Critz received 53 percent of the vote against Republican Tim Burns of Eighty Four, who received 44 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special election. Libertarian Demo Agoris had received 2 percent of the vote with 589 of 591 precincts reporting as of 12:05 a.m.

Critz and Burns were also nominated to represent their respective parties in the November election.

U.S. Rep.-elect Critz described the moment as bittersweet, since he would not have run if not for Murtha’s passing.

“It is one of these things that was really never part of any plan,” he said. “I am so proud to have this opportunity to do this. It is such an odd place in my life to be standing here as a congressman-elect.”

Critz said he will take what he learned working for Murtha ...