Feb. 21–A number of incumbents seeking their party nominations in races for federal and state offices representing Westmoreland and Fayette counties in the upcoming primary election aren’t alone, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State’s unofficial candidate list.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, who is seeking a sixth term representing the 18th District, is vying for the Republican nomination along with Evan Feinberg, according to the list.

Feinberg, who is pegging the nation’s debt at $15 trillion and predicting it to double in the next decade, said Congress needs new representation to curtail spending.

“Politicians of either party who support big government, big spending and big bailouts need to be replaced,” Feinberg of Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County, said on Monday. “Congressman Tim Murphy has been one of the top 10 liberal Republicans in Washington.”

Murphy, who also lives in Upper St. Clair, could not be reached for comment. On his campaign website, he cites ongoing efforts to quash unnecessary spending and fight the “liberal Obama-Pelosi agenda.”

Vying for the Democratic nomination is Lawrence “Larry” Maggi, a Washington County commissioner from Buffalo Township.

Redistricting has left U.S. Reps. Mark Critz and Jason Altmire seeking the Democratic nomination in the reconfigured 12th District.

Critz, of Johnstown, served as the late Congressman John Murtha’s district director before winning his boss’ seat in a May 2010 special election.

Altmire, a McCandless Democrat, is seeking his party’s nomination for a fourth term.

Neither candidate could be reached yesterday for comment.

Only one candidate, Keith Rothfus of Edgeworth, filed for the Republican nomination in the 12th District. Rothfus had been a candidate in 2010.

At the state level, the only candidate who is listed as seeking the Republican nomination for state Senate in the 39th District is incumbent Kim Ward of Hempfield, who is running for a second term.

A Latrobe man, Stuart J. Albaugh, announced he would run for the Republican nomination, but he does not appear as a candidate on the state’s unofficial list. Albaugh is the principal of Jeannette High School.

Only one Democrat, Kristine Melville, is listed as seeking the party’s nomination in the 39th District. Melville is a councilwoman in Derry Borough.

State Rep. George Dunbar of Penn Township is the only candidate in the GOP primary in the 56th District. He is seeking a second term.

Democrats Raymond Bud Geissler of Irwin and Marybeth Kuznik of Penn Township, a state committeewoman, are seeking their party’s nomination in the 56th.

State Rep. Eli Evankovich of Murrysville is running for the Republican nomination in the 54th. No Democrats are listed.

In the 55th District, state Rep. Joseph Petrarca of Washington Township is seeking the Democratic nomination. John Palaika of Latrobe is listed as the sole candidate for the Republican nomination.

State Rep. Tim Krieger of Delmont is the only candidate for the GOP nomination in the 57th District. Andrew Gales of Youngwood is the only listed candidate for the Democratic nomination.

State Rep. R. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen, is the only candidate for his party’s nomination in the 58th. No Republican candidates are listed.

In the 59th District, state Rep. Mike Reese, R-Mt. Pleasant Township, is seeking a third term. Harriet Ellenberger of Mt. Pleasant Township, vice chairwoman of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee, is the only candidate seeking that party’s nomination.

In Fayette County’s 51st District, incumbent Tim Mahoney, D-South Union, is seeking his party’s nomination for a fourth term.

Two candidates are running for the Republican nomination in the 51st, Gary Gearing and Michael Cavanagh, both of Uniontown.

Gearing is a city councilman. Cavanagh has tried to run for the office previously but was removed from the ballot because of a felony conviction for insurance fraud.