Sunday, January 13, 2008

PRIMARY '06: Berner falls short in bid for Congress

May 17, 2006

By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News


Lawrence County supported its own in the race for the Democratic nomination in the 4th Congressional District.

However, Jason Altmire’s home base of Allegheny County rebuffed Georgia Berner’s efforts to face incumbent Republican Melissa Hart in the fall.

Altmire turned backed the Shenango Township businesswoman by unofficial totals of 32,161 to 26,275. Hart, unopposed in her bid for the GOP nomination, collected 33,831 votes in yesterday’s primary election.

“Allegheny County killed me,” said Berner, the president and chief executive officer of Berner International.

Altmire, a former health-care executive, outpaced Berner 16,304 to 6,607 in Allegheny County. In the other five counties that make up the district, Berner held a 19,668 to 15,857 advantage.

“I think we should just cut out that part of the district,” joked Berner about her setback.

Her strongest support came in Lawrence and Butler counties.

“In Lawrence County, people know me and know what I can do,” she said. “I really thank Lawrence County for their support.”

The contest pitted a political newcomer with business savvy against a former executive and congressional aide. Both support health-care reforms, are against the privatization of Social Security and want to strengthen the public education system. Berner touted her business experience as the key difference between her and Altmire.

“I looked at Georgia Berner as an equal,” Altmire said last night. “I knew it would be tough.

“She had worked really hard at the end.”

Altmire said his polling showed he would defeat Berner by double-digit figures. He captured 55 percent of the vote to Berner’s 45 percent.

“We picked up all the endorsements and got on a roll,” he said. “She ran a good campaign.”

Late results from Allegheny County’s board of elections kept the contest in doubt. However, once the numbers were released, Altmire gained momentum and moved past Berner.

“I had eight or nine months to catch up because he had started the campaign earlier,” Berner said. “I think one more month would have done it.”

Altmire said he has little time to enjoy his victory. He’ll be working to return the 4th Congressional seat to the Democratic Party.

“We’re not going to attack (Hart),” he said. “Of course, we’re going to talk about her record.”

Berner said her initial foray into politics has not soured her.

“I’m quite motivated to do something,” she said after her defeat. “I’ll have to figure that out.”

Despite the rude reception in Allegheny County, Berner will return to the area today. She is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh to receive the Small Business Administration’s Exporter of the Year Award.

No comments:

Post a Comment