Published: February 01, 2008 09:46 am      

3rd Republican seeking 69th district seat

SOMERSET — Fresh off a narrow loss in last year’s race for Somerset County commissioner, John Ferko is setting his sights on the state Legislature.

On Friday, Ferko became the third Republican in what is becoming a crowded field to replace retiring state Rep. Bob Bastian, R-Somerset.

It has been a whirlwind political year for the 39-year-old respiratory therapist from Shanksville. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Ferko defeated veteran Commissioner Brad Cober for one of two party nominations in the primary, then almost ousted Commissioner Jimmy Marker.

“Sometimes things happen for a reason,” Ferko said. “Maybe there was a reason I didn’t win the commissioners’ race. Maybe this was why.”

The 69th Legislative District covers the southern two-thirds of the county – where Ferko received strong support – and a portion of western Bedford County.

“I did much better south of Route 30 than north of 30,” he said. “You have to look where your strength is, and use it to your advantage.”

A lifelong county resident, Ferko has been a Stonycreek Township auditor and member of the Shanksville-Stonycreek school board. He currently is a Republican committeeman in the township.

Ferko said he would fight against increased gun-control regulations and gay marriage.

He also said little has been done in Harrisburg to make Pennsylvania more attractive to businesses.

Eliminating property taxes would be a priority.

“Not necessarily reform, but elimination,” he said. “That’s been talked about for awhile, and it needs to be continued.”

Ferko said he would push for the completion of a four-lane Route 219 from Somerset to Interstate 68 in Maryland.

“We need to develop a good rapport with the Department of Transportation,” he said. “If it isn’t done now, it’s not going to be completed.”

Ferko is a member of the Somerset County and Pennsylvania farm bureaus, and is president of the Somerset County Extension Office board. He said he backs farmland preservation against development pressure and measures to help dairy farmers compete against foreign imports.

Ferko, respiratory staff supervisor for Mosso’s Medical Supply in Somerset, is married to the former Lisa Lohr and has three children: Tanner, 9; Kaitlyn, 6; and Emma, 1. The family resides in Shanksville.

Mike Brendle, a Lincoln Township businessman, and Ed Sroka, a construction company owner from Bakersville, are the other two Republican candidates to announce so far. Ken Warnick of Meyersdale, director of student services at Alleghany College of Maryland, and Meyersdale Area English teacher Stephen Smerbeck are running on the Democratic ticket.