Orie pursues Dem write-in bid

Republican State Sen. Jane Orie -- who was all set to run unopposed this year, before she got indicted -- is trying to outflank her proposed Dem challenger by doing her own write-in bid for the party's nod.

Democratic Party officials in Allegheny and Butler counties are working to get Ross Twp commissioner Dan DeMarco onto the November ballot through a write-in effort, and caught wind of Orie's competing effort this week. Voters in the 40th senate district have been receiving phone calls and a mailer (above) on her bid.

From the DeMarco camp:

If Orie succeeds in her write-in effort, she would become the Democratic nominee.  Already unopposed on the Republican ballot, a successful Democratic write-in by Orie would eliminate any contested race in November for the State Senate seat.  Orie’s write-in would effectively limit the rights of citizens and is an attempt to crush any debate regarding her record and stewardship of government resources, including her indictment on felony charges of theft of services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania .