Prominent Johnstown businessman Mark Pasquerilla said today that he was been expelled from the state Republican party's Leadership Committee, presumably due to his support of Democrat Mark Critz in the 12th District special election. He was notified of the move by GOP chair Rob Gleason.

UPDATE: Here's a statement from Gleason: ""We thank Mr. Pasquerilla for his service on this important committee.  This is a committee that gives me advice and suggestions on the future business of the Party and I have chosen to make some changes that I think will benefit the future of our organization and our candidates this November and in the future.”

Pasquerilla is politically idiosyncratic -- the P-G's Dennis Roddy described him last year as "a conservative Republican and ardent Murtha ally." After Jack Murtha's death in February, Pasquerilla briefly considered running for the seat as a Republican, before deferring to Murtha's widow Joyce and then Critz.

He and Gleason are both natives of Johnstown.