Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 21

ELECTION 2002 Incumbents dominate in other districts lorn rawp! (gMlsp raons mgpsss(0)inisil! seat I'll IMiUKOrt I it hi Vv rMf, vs U.S. House of Representatives District 3 (100 reporting from Armstrong, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango, Warren counties) HPhil English (R) 116,712 AnnDrea M. Benson (G) 33,313 District 4 (100 reporting from Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer; Westmoreland counties) 0 Melissa Hart (R) 130,356 Stevan Drobac Jr. (D) 71,741 District 9 (100 reporting from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Somerset counties) El Bill Shuster (R) ...124,115 John R. Henry (D) ...52,306 District 1 2 (100 reporting from Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland counties) EI John Murtha 123,750 Bill Choby (R) 44,583 District 14 (Allegheny 100 reporting) EI Mike Doyle (D) 121,141 District 18 (Allegheny 100, Washington 100, Westmoreland 100 reporting) EI Tim Murphy (R) 119,720 Jack Machek (D) 79,404 By Milan Simonich Post-Gazette Staff Writer Republicans picked up the open congressional seat in Western Pennsylvania last night as Tim Murphy rolled to victory.

He defeated Democrat Jack Machek in the new 18th District. It covers the South Hills and western end of Allegheny County, and much of Washington and Westmoreland counties. Murphy, a state senator from Upper St. Clair, dominated in Allegheny County. He also carried Machek's home county of Westmoreland.

A 50-year-old child psychologist, Murphy says he will be one of just a tiozen or so health-care professionals in Congress. "People are tired of inside-the-peltway bashing and politics," Murphy said to supporters at the Westin Convention Center hotel, Downtown. "Obviously it is time we had a psychologist in Congress." Machek, 34, had a Democratic voter; "registration edge of about 70,000 in the district, but he saw many of them defect to Murphy. Bill Priatko, a Democrat in Machek's hometown of North was one of them. Priatko said he voted Republican based on Machek's biographical claims, which he considered suspect.

Machek described himself as "an activeduty" veteran of the U.S. Army and regularly mentioned his appointment to the U.S. Military Acaderriy in West Point, N.Y. Critics such as Priatko said Machek implied in campaign fliers that he graduated from West Point. Annie O'NeillPost-Gazette State Sen.

Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, heads to the podium at the Westin Convention Center hotel last night to thank supporters after his victory over Democrat Jack Machek for the House of Representatives seat in the newly created 18th District. Murphy's wife, Nan, is at right. i jf i 'y i rrfuZ 'r A-H If tors, Reps. John Maher of Upper St.

Clair and John Pippy of Moon. Here's a roundup of other congressional races across the region. 4th District Republican Melissa Hart, an incumbent in her first term, routed Democrat Stevan Drobac Jr. Hart, 40, dominated in the northern suburbs of Allegheny County and she carried Beaver County, Drobac's home base. "This is awesome," Hart said in greeting supporters at the Hampton Banquet Hall in Richland.

"I traveled today through five of the six counties in my district, and I found that people want solutions no political garbage, no nepotism." In addition to Allegheny and much of a bankroll for him to overcome. "We were outspent seven or eight to one," Machek said. He estimated he spent $100,000 on the race, compared to about $800,000 by Murphy. Murphy said both sides ran positive campaigns. He thanked Machek (or a gentlemanly race.

Murphy's election to Congress will create an opening for his state Senate seat. That district is heavily Republican. Already being mentioned as possible successors to Murphy are two Republican state legisla Machek attended the academy for two years before leaving because of illness. His time in school at West Point was his only military service. Machek said he was proud of the race he ran and of his cadre of cam- Bill Shuster paign volunteers.

He said his overriding message the need for a balanced federal budget to restore health to the economy captured the imagination of many voters. But, he said, Murphy had too John P. Murtha Mike Doyle Beaver, the district includes all of Lawrence and parts of Butler, Mercer and Westmoreland counties. Hart was familiar to many voters after two years in Congress and 10 before that in the state Senate. Drobac, 50, could not overcome her name recognition.

A retired Center police officer now employed as a flight attendant for US Airway; he was making his first run for federal office. 1 3rd District Republican incumbent Phil Eng lish defeated Green Party candidate AnnDrea Benson. ib English, 46, of Erie, has. been a member of Congress since Running as an overwhelming fa vorite, he declined to debate Benj son or make appearances with hefv- Benson, 60, a lawyer and arbitral tor from Edinboro, said she ran to offer voters a choice. Democrats aid not bother to field a candidate.

9th District The Shuster dynasty continued: 9 Republican Bill Shuster, who succeeded his father, Bud, in Congress, easily won re-election to a second term. He defeated Democrat -John Henry, who operates a diner 'off the1 Pennsylvania Turnpike. Shuster, 41, of Hollidaysbiirg, made quick work of Henry, also 41, a political unknown who ran shoestring campaign. Bud Shuster represented thecfo' trict for 28 years before then watching his son succeed hiro The district covers all of Bedford, Blair, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon and Juniata counties, and parts' of Cambria, Clearfield, Cumberland; Fayette, Indiana, Mifflin, Perry anf Somerset counties. 'pa 12th District Democratic Rep.

John Murtha felt like he was in a rerun. He feated Republican Bill Choby for the fourth time. Murtha, 70, has been a congress man since 1974. He barely had to campaign to prevail over what Cbo-, by, a dentist, acknowledged was ten ken opposition. Like Murtha, Choby, 51, hails from Johnstown.

He said he ran, against impossible odds because he does not believe Murtha has been effective in rebuilding an economy that was once based on steel The district covers parts of Armstrong, Cambria, Clarion, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. 14th District Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Swissvale, was unopposed. His newly redrawn district was so heavily packed with Democrats that Republicans did not bother fielding a candidate. 1 The district covers Pittsburgh and parts of the Mon Valley.

i Other races Other parts of Pennsylvania were host to some of the nation's mbsj, competitive congressional races. Rep. Tim Holden, D-SchuyUdfl County, edged past Rep. George Gekas, R-Harrisburg, in a race 'be'-' tween two sitting Congressmen for the 17th District seat. In the 13th District, U.S.

Rep'. Joseph Hoeffel, D-MontgomeyrwaS in a tight race with RepubGcarl Melissa Brown. An even closer race was playing out in the 6th District between Stte Sen. Jim Gerlach, R-Chestervand Dan Wofford, son of former senator Harris Wofford. irfif ho Staff writers hen Barcousftg and Timothy McNulty contritmiecF to this story.

Milan Simonich can be reaHetf. at or 412-263-1956. lUiiJllHJ'J Phil English- Melissa Hart Gubernatorial results for Allegheny County municipalities, city wards 0 Percent Rendell Fisher Morrill Krawch- Percent Rendell Fisher Morrill Krawch- Percent Rendell Fisher Morrill Krawch- Munlclpality reporting (D) (R) (G) uck(L) Municipality reporting (D) (R) (G) uck(L) Municipality reporting (D) (R) (G) uck(L) Aleppo 100 239 246 4 7 Indiana 100 950 1,113 32 43 Ward22 100 535 169 26 14 Aspinwall 100 503 514' 10 29 Ingram 100 599 450 21 21 Ward23 100 379 155 12 14 Avalon 100 741 760 17 36 Jefferson Hills 100 1,513 1,515 25 44 Ward24 100 696 532 19 34 Baldwin Bo'rd 100, 3,606. 2,862 61 84 Kennedy 100 1,933 1,199 20 31 Ward25 100 675 225 26 18 Baldwin Twp; 100 450 371 5 17 Kilbuck 100 118 156 4 5 Ward26 100 1,877 974 46 64 Bell Acres 10 228 263 0.1 Leet 100 266 293 3 4 Ward27 100 1,896 1,516 48 70 Bellevue 100 1,091 908 32 33 Leetsdale 100 204 148 3 11 Ward28 100 1,707 1,183 29 67 Ben Avon 100 355' 329 12 13 Liberty 100 467 366 6 12 Ward29 100 1,785 1,249 36 60 Ben Avon Heights 100 58 119 0 2 Uncoln 100 184 157 1 8 Ward30 100 581 260 14 22 Bethel' Park 100 4,943, 7,391 94 148 Marshall 100 756 1,305 19 35 Ward31 100 804 718 13 24 Blawnox 100 324 183 13 12 McCandiess 100 3,991 6,409 105 153 Ward32 100 1,164 819 24 36 Brackenrldge 100 471 348 9 19 McDonald 100 58 25 0 4 Pleasant Hills 100 1,355 1,655 17 32 Braddock 100 506 100 6 19 McKeesport 100 3,350 1,691 57 87 Plum 100 3,836 4,144 55 130 BraddockHilis 100 381 230 5 23 McKees Rocks 100 1,039 380 10 37 PortVue 100 757 432 12 28 Bradford Woods 100 210 377 5 7 MiHvale 100 559 355 8 18 Rankin 100 423 87 2 18 100 1,621 ,1,321 16 '57 Monroeville 100 4,928 4,426 79 119 Reserve 100 652 603 11 23 Bridgeville 100 794 715 12 30 Moon 100 3,069 3,463 62 88 Richland 100 1,161 2,060 41 44 Carnegie 4'" .100 1,205 895 26 45 Mt. Lebanon 100 6,273 6,853 161 153 Robinson 100 2,212 1,864 28 71 Castle Shannon 100 1,273 1,232 30 48 MountOIiver 100 469 285 14 12 Ross 100 5,303 6,330 95 190 ChaHant 100 159 ,110 4,4 Munhall 100 2,272 1,397 36 63 Rosslyn Farms 100 81 146 5 1 Cheswick 100 352 366 6 9 Neville -100 233 155 3 5 Scott 100 2,954 2,622 48 92 Churchill.

100,, 920 743 25 21 North Braddock 100 998 476 15 30 Sewickley 100 585 635 20 22 Clairton 100 1,570 580 10 34 North Fayette 100 1,471 1,527 28 46 Sewickley Heights 100 73 245 1 3 Collfer 100 983 1,079 17 30 North Versailles 100 1,878 1,205 28 57 Sewickley Hills 100 81 125 6 6 Coraopolis'' 100 1,128 670 26 28 Oakdale .100 .305 256 7 18 Shaler 100 4,959 5,711 121 185 Crafton 100 ..967, 974 44 38 Oakmont 100 1,149 1,205 27 51 Sharpsburg 100 627 301 13 26 Crescent 100 370 341 10 7 O'Hara 100 1,730 1,691 42 60 SouthFayette 100 1,657 1,796 27 58 Dorrhont 100 1,458 1,228 68 49 Ohio 100 492 681 11 17 South Park 100 2,071 2,205 30 43 Dravosburg 100 365 304 13 12 Osborne 100 86 123. 1 2 South Versailles 100 58 45 1 2 Duquesne'l 100 995 408 8 18 Penn Hills 100 8,201 5,894 141 210 Springdale Boro 100 599 449 19 31 EastDeer1" 100 282 131 2 12 Pennsbury Village 100 130 85 4 2 Springdale Twp. 100 325 265 3 13 East McKeesport 100 384 280 8 13 Pine 100 866 1,688 22 27 Stowe 100 1,526 548 15 39 East Pittsburgh 100 276 137 1 10 Pitcairn 100 500 409 9 14 Swissvale 100 1,670 878 64 59 Edgewood 100 790' 453 43 31 Pittsburgh 100 56,821 23,909 1,813 1,763 Tarentum 100 534 .415 14 27 Edgewortrr 100 280 426 10 13 Ward1 "100 139 49,. 7 3 Thornburg 100 102 117 0 1 Elizabeth Boro 100 249 198 4 15 Ward2 100 241 126 3 6 Trafford 100 7, 13 0 1 Elizabeth Twp. 100 2,386 2,182 33 72 Ward3 100 742 77 8 23 Turtle Creek 100 803 504 14 25 Emsworth" 100 380 372 5 16 Ward4 100 2,463 752 163 69 Upper St.

Clair 100 2,480 5,616 36 70 Etna iV 100 549 410 18 25 Ward5 100 1,749 207 35 50 Verona 100 410 265 17 11 Fawfi 100 325 399 5. 17 Ward6 100 654 318 28 31 Versailles 100 248 178 6 12 Findlay tl 100 741 719 16 19 Ward7 100 2,351 889 80 53 Wall 100 100 48 4 2 Forest Hills1 1 100 1,511 1.212 60 29 Ward8 100 1,602 714 115 45 West Deer 100 1,556 1.639, 29 77 Forward 100 589 482 9 15 Ward9 100 1,217 638 '49' 44 West Elizabeth 100 102 52 0 7 Fox Chapel 100 828 23 Ward10 100 2,800 1,252 56 96 West Homestead .100 465 239 5 8 Franklin Park 100 1.561 2,865 31 52 Ward11 100 2,712 113; '148 West Mifflin 100 4,331 2,653 79 142 Frazer 100 186 '171 3 16 Ward12 100 1,841 215 18 53 WestView 100 1,126 1,126 26 46 Glassport 100 838 457 7 25 Ward13 100 2497 211 33 68 Wnitater 100 253 144 4 11 GlenflekJ8- 100' 31' 36, 0 1 Ward14 100 9,072 2,146 408 155 Whitehall .100 2,329 2,776 44 78 Green 100 908 998 17 30 Wardl5 ,100 2,929 1,148, ,96 108 White Oak 100 1,614 1,379 25 52 Hampton 100 2,527 3,620 61. 104 Ward16 100 1,302 609 40 59 Wllkins 100 1,306 1,167 19 76 Harrhar 100 520 463 9 22 Ward17 100' 962 440 63 34 Wilkinsburg 100 3,378 878 173 91 Harrison v' 100 1,672 ,1,486 43 70 Ward18 100 1,431 543 32 51 Wilmerding 100 330 198 '9 14 HaySvlife "T' 100 12 23 0 0 Ward 19 100. 4,894 3,311 114 .143 Totals 100 209,1 93 168,947 4,952 6,652 Heidelberg 100 206 110 4,9 Ward20 100 2,468 1,750 46 87 Homestead 100 599 125 5 16 Ward2l 100 656 81 13 14 Source: Allegheny County EtecHons Department Traficant's seaF'S goes to newcomer Reformers no longer have James Traficant to kick around. Former U.S.

Rep. Traficant, ruj ning for an Ohio congressional sea from his Pennsylvania prison cell, lost a three-way race last night. He still received about 15 percent of the vote, or more than 27,000 votes. Democrat Tim Ryan of NileS wr5r) the race in Ohip's 17th District, taking 51 percent of the vote. Republican Ann Womer Benjamin of Aurora finished second with 34 percent Ryan, 29, will be one of'the' youngest members of Congress when he takes office in January, tike Traficant, he is a former star quar terback known throughout northeast Ohio for his athletic achievements.

Traficant, formerly a Democrat; represented the district for J7 trj years until his expulsion from Congress in July. He is serving an eight-year sentence in a Allenwood federal prison for 10 felony convictions on public corruption.