Abby Major of Ford City has been selected by the state Republican Party to run in a special election to replace her former boss, state Rep. Jeff Pyle, who recently retired due to health issues.

Republican Party officials from Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties met Wednesday in the Kittanning Township fire hall and voted unanimously to select Major to run to represent the 60th District, which lies in parts of the three counties.The special election will be held the same day as the primary on May 18.Pyle endorsed Major, who served as his office manager and chief of staff in 2008 and from 2012 until his retirement earlier this month. He announced his retirement just three months into his eighth term in office, citing the need to continue rehabilitation and treatment for cancer. His successor will serve the remainder of his two-year term.“I'm from this district. It's where I grew up. I know the people here. I care about the people here. I want to fight for the issues we care about,” Major said.The tax burden of district residents is among those issues.Major said Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget includes an income tax increase that she will oppose if elected.“We need someone to say no to the personal income tax increase,” Major said.Election integrity is another issue.Major said there is discussion in the party about “scaling back” options for mail-in ballots and early voting, and she is looking into the subject.“Absentee ballots are always an option for people who meet the requirements,” Major said.She is a licensed funeral director and an Army veteran, but she said the experience she gained working with Pyle would enable her to hit the ground running.“I've been working by Jeff's side all these years learning how the process works. I'm ready to step in and take over on day one,” Major said.“Abby has served as my chief of staff for more than 10 years,” Pyle said. “She knows the district well and understands the problems facing those living in Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties. I have confidence that she can make this transition seamlessly and fight for us in Harrisburg immediately. Whenever somebody has stopped me on the street or in the grocery store and asked me to fix something for them, it's been Abby that did the fixing.”

Abby Major