LAWRENCE COUNTY District attorney bows out of race

A Beaver County man is the only person running for the Democratic nomination.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino will not seek the Democratic nomination the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mangino, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination in 2000, said last month that he had been approached by Democratic party leaders and was considering a run for the office.
"While it's flattering that someone would suggest you'd be a good candidate for Congress, you still have to weigh the options," Mangino said. "Here the only decision for me is to be at home and work on the things happening in the district attorney's office."
Discussing priorities: Mangino, 39, of New Castle, and his wife, Juliann, have 13-month-old twins and he was recently elected to his second term as Lawrence County's district attorney.
"I want to spend time with my children. For me it's a matter of priorities. My family comes first and then the things we are doing in the district attorney's office," he said.
The only candidate seeking the Democratic nomination so far is Steven Drobac Jr. of Center Township, Beaver County, a furloughed USAir employee who has never held public office.
Drobac has said that he has little money for the campaign and last month was still working on drumming up support from local Democratic party leaders.
The deadline to file petitions for candidacy is Tuesday.
Competition: The winner of the Democratic nomination will go up against U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th. Hart is completing her first term in office since beating Democratic contender Terry Van Horne in 2000.
Van Horne of New Kensington was beaten by a nearly two-to-one margin in the heavily Democratic 4th Congressional District, which includes all of Lawrence and Beaver counties and parts of Westmoreland, Butler and Allegheny counties.
A portion of Mercer County was recently added the district and includes Farrell, West Middlesex, Wheatland and part of Hermitage.