Published: February 26, 2008 11:39 pm      

Murtha’s GOP opponent tossed off ballot

Republican William Russell knew that he faced an uphill battle when he decided to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha.

Now, Russell’s battle may have ended before a single vote has been cast.

A Commonwealth Court judge on Tuesday ruled that Russell does not have enough valid petition signatures to appear on the April 22 primary ballot.

Russell, a veteran of both Iraq wars who quit his Army job and moved to Johnstown to run against Murtha, said he will not appeal.

“I don’t have the resources to fight a protracted court battle,” the former Washington, D.C., resident said.

With no other Republicans filing to run in the 12th Congressional District, Russell still has a chance to win his party’s nomination.

He would need at least 1,000 voters to write his name on primary ballots, and he would have to be the top vote-getter among any write-in candidates.

Russell is not sure whether he will campaign for write-in votes.

“We’ll make that decision in the coming days,” he said.

The challenge to Russell’s petitions came from two local Republicans and was backed by Murtha’s campaign.

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson ruled that Russell’s petitions contained only 993 valid signatures – seven short of the 1,000 needed.

Murtha, who has spent 34 years in the House, faces no Democratic challenger.

He will be unopposed in November unless Russell or another Republican can win enough write-in votes to gain a nomination in the primary.