Published: May 24, 2009 12:03 am      

Showcase: No negatives from Murtha coverage

However the weather turns out in Johnstown later this week, officials expect no political “cloud” over this year’s Showcase for Commerce.

U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, has taken a beating in the national press recently, with critics focusing on the longtime congressman’s control over defense spending.

An event featuring Murtha and some of the nation’s biggest defense contractors might seem to be a lightning rod for that debate. But organizers have seen no ill effects at this point.

“Every single sponsor that has been involved with this came back without question, and we added a few more,” said Linda Thomson, president of Johnstown Area Regional Industries.

She added that, in terms of booth space at the exhibition, “we had a larger waiting list than ever.”

Murtha’s detractors contend that the congressman steers millions of dollars in wasteful “pork” projects to his district.

The rhetoric has intensified since it became known that federal officials are investigating PMA Group – a lobbying firm with ties to Murtha – and Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems, Windber companies that have benefitted from government contracts.

But federal officials have not said they are investigating Murtha.

And local leaders have defended the congressman as well as area companies that do business in the defense sector.

“It’s been a gradual evolution of this industry and this region. It didn’t happen overnight,” Thomson said. “A lot of these companies have made big investments in themselves.”

The same goes for firms that will announce big governmental contracts at this week’s Showcase, Thomson said.

“These are companies earning contracts because of their capabilities and delivery times,” she said. “These are competitive awards.”

Murtha spokesman Matt Mazonkey echoed that theme.

“The event is really about showcasing the talent and skills of our area,” Mazonkey said, “and demonstrating that significant cost savings can be achieved and quality products produced when the big companies pair up with the smaller companies on federal contracts.”

Mazonkey said the congressman also was not concerned about press coverage of this year’s Showcase.

“We’ve had the national press cover the Showcase for the past few years,” he said. “Getting them out of the Washington beltway and into the real world is a good thing, and most leave impressed.”