2nd ballot issue leaves 1 Dem against Pa.’s Kelly

2nd ballot issue leaves 1 Dem against Pa.’s Kelly

SHARON, Pa. (AP) — A northwestern Pennsylvania attorney has been tossed off the Democratic primary ballot in his bid to unseat the freshman Republican who now holds the 3rd District Congressional seat in western Pennsylvania.

A Commonwealth Court judge found Crawford County attorney George Schroeck had only 983 valid signatures on his nomination petitions, 17 short of the 1,000 needed to remain on the April 24 primary ballot. Another Democrat, 58-year-old Mel Marin, of Erie, was previously tossed off the ballot after his signatures were challenged, too.

Schroeck says he’ll appeal but, for now, Penn State-Shenango psychology professor Missa Eaton is the only Democrat still on the ballot in the 3rd District.

She’s hoping to run against U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly in November, who defeated freshman Democrat incumbent Kathy Dahlkemper in 2010.