Murtha aide to run for late legislator’s seat in Congress

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Pennsylvania Democrats have chosen former congressional aide Mark Critz as the nominee for a special election to fill the U.S. House seat once held by late Rep. John P. Murtha.

Party officials cite Critz’s weekend victory in a nonbinding straw poll by local party members. Critz is from Johnstown, Murtha’s hometown. He won 46 of the 83 votes cast at a meeting Saturday in Delmont, near Pittsburgh. He was a longtime aide of Murtha’s and had been endorsed by the late congressman’s widow.

Murtha died last month at age 77.

The special election is May 18.

--Associated Press