Only Wilson mum on his vote

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and U.S. Rep.-elect Jason Altmire voted for U.S. Rep. John Murtha in his failed bid to be House majority leader.

Murtha, of Johnstown, Pa., endorsed by House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, lost to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer on a 149-86 vote today.

The incoming U.S. House Democratic caucus met to elect the party’s leadership by secret ballot.

Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, who represents portions of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and Altmire, of McCandless, Pa., D-4th, whose district will include Lawrence County and a portion of Mercer county, said they voted for Murtha for the No. 2 position in the House.

Pelosi, of San Francisco, and Hoyer, of Mechanicsville, Md., have had a strained relationship over the years. The two ran against each other in a leadership race years ago, an election won by Pelosi.

After the vote, Pelosi and Hoyer said they would work together and have a unified Democratic caucus.

“He doesn’t see any divisions in the caucus,” said Ryan Keating, a Ryan spokesman, about the congressman. “The Democrats need to pass legislation for the people and it can’t be done if we are fighting.”

Altmire feels the same way, said Christine Stacy, the congressman-elect’s campaign manager.

“It’s done and over with, and the Democrats are unified,” she said.

U.S. Rep.-elect Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, wouldn’t reveal who he backed for majority leader.

“It was a secret vote, and he wants to honor that secrecy,” said Jason Friedman, Wilson’s spokesman.

But Wilson, whose will represent all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning in the House, said about three weeks ago that he supported Hoyer for a leadership position in the party. Hoyer campaigned for Wilson in Boardman, and the majority leader-elect’s political action committee contributed $10,000 to Wilson’s campaign.

Wilson was pleased with the results of the vote, Friedman said.