While his opponent was on one side of Washington County, Bill Russell was on the other side Tuesday, stumping for votes and explaining his views.
Russell, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who is taking on longtime Democrat John Murtha for the 12th District congressional seat, is making a two-day stop in the county to visit the Pony League World Series, Washington County Fair and speak to several groups.
Russell, 46, a Republican from Johnstown, earned the nomination on write-in votes in the primary, after his nominating petitions were challenged. He said he entered the race because of Murtha's calls for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
"That was my big reason for getting in," he said. "But what is going to win or lose the race is economic policy and economic development."
And that development is tied to energy, Russell said.
The rising price of gasoline, natural gas and other forms of energy highlights where Murtha has gone wrong over the past 34 years, he said.
Russell said Murtha has earmarked federal funds for companies building products for the Department of Defense, whether or not they are needed, instead of helping to develop a broad-based economy not dependent on any one congressman.
"We live in a region that is one of the richest in natural resources," he said. "Why aren't we leading the way and becoming the energy center of the U.S.?"
Russell said he would promote development of the region's coal and natural gas resources to help meet the country's energy needs, by using clean coal and coal-to- liquid-fuel technology.
At the same time, he said, the nation should be developing long-term solutions, like solar and nuclear power.
Russell believes the technology is in place to burn coal cleanly, saying that we should be good stewards of the environment, but adding, "I do not believe in manmade global warming."
The country needs to free itself of dependence on Mideast oil, he said. "We should do it all and do it now."