Joe Pittman

FORD CITY, Armstrong County — Republican Party officials from Butler and three neighboring counties selected Joe Pittman to run in the May 21 special election to represent the 41st Senatorial District to replace his former boss, retired state Sen. Don White.

Pittman of Indiana, who served as White's chief of staff since White took office in 2001, was the only nominee and was unanimously selected by party officials from Butler, Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

Party chairmen from each of the three counties with areas in the district selected conferees to participate in the voting, which took place in the Lenape Heights Golf Resort in Ford City.

“I'm overwhelmed. I'm humbled,” Pittman said. “More than anything I'm glad the party came out in unity.”

If elected, he said he would fight against the “radical social agenda” that is infiltrating state government.

“That agenda is not the vision of the constituents of the 41st District,” he said.

His agenda includes working to create jobs, encouraging workforce development and supporting the responsible use of natural gas and coal.

“It all comes down to jobs and the economy,” Pittman said.

He said workforce development is vital to helping young people find family-sustaining careers in high-demand fields such as electrical work, welding, truck driving and plumbing.

“The skilled trades are in high demand,” Pittman said.

“I think we have a strong candidate,” said Al Lindsay, Butler County Republican Party chairman.

Having one candidate was a clear sign of party unity, and Pittman's experience working with the Senate will allow him to “hit the ground running” if elected, Lindsay said.

Abortion and the Second Amendment are the issues dividing the parties, he said.

“He's strong on both of them. Joe is very much pro-life. He knows what the job entails,” Lindsay said.

“I want to extend my thanks to the conferees for their hard work in this process and congratulate Joe Pittman on being selected as the Republican nominee,” said Val DiGiorgio, state Republican Party chairman. “Joe Pittman is a conservative leader who will be an ally in a Republican-led agenda that will keep taxes low, our economy thriving, and our values respected.

“Joe Pittman has an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how decisions made in Harrisburg affect the residents of the 41st District. I have no doubt he will continue the same level of great representation the district had with Sen. Don White.”

Pittman graduated from Penn State University in 1998. He and his wife, Gina, have four children.

Susan Boser, a Democrat and a public policy professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is also running to represent the 41st District. She is a mother of three children. She lives in Indiana County with her husband, David Brady.