Buchanan says she’ll run against Altmire

February 18, 2010

Former U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan’s formal announcement that she’s entering the 4th Congressional District Republican primary did not surprise anyone, let alone the man who holds the seat, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire.

But, Altmire, a two-term McCandless Township Democrat, wasn’t saying much about the woman who’s seen by many political observers as the front-runner to win the Republican nomination and challenge him in the fall.

“I’m going to let the Republicans fight it out,” Altmire said. “If you do a good job and they think you’re doing a good job, your constituents will send you back.”

Buchanan, a 46-year-old Fox Chapel resident, has long been expected to enter the race. She did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Edgeworth lawyer Keith Rothfus, a former Department of Homeland Security official under President George W. Bush, has been campaigning and fundraising for months, and Wednesday, he vowed to stay in the race.

Buchanan, Rothfus said, worked in the federal government from when President Ronald Reagan was in office until she resigned in November. “She’s an establishment person,” while the district needs someone with private-sector experience and a knowledge of the economy, Rothfus said.

“Can someone who worked for the government for 23 years have that appreciation?” he asked.

Rothfus warned that Buchanan could be dogged by questions surrounding her prosecution of Dr. Cyril Wecht, the renowned Democratic coroner from Allegheny County, and her role in politicizing the U.S. Department of Justice under Bush.

Those questions will “bog down” her campaign and distract from the important issues facing voters, Rothfus said. “I want to stay focused on the issues,” he said.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Rothfus had only $36,869 in available cash at the end of 2009, while Altmire had just less than $1 million.

Hopewell Township resident John Vinsick, another Republican primary candidate, could not be reached Wednesday, and, according to published reports, Gibsonia-area resident Robert Klein was dropping his bid and backing Buchanan.

The 4th Congressional District includes Beaver County except for two precincts (Frankfort Springs and Hanover Township East), Lawrence County, and parts of Allegheny, Butler, Mercer and Westmoreland counties.

Click here to read the full story.