Mark Critz

Critz is the son of Mary Lou (née Rybacki) and William S. Critz. His father was of Slovak descent, and his mother is of half-Polish and half-Italian ancestry. Critz attended Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania.[http://kdka.com/politics/Mark.Critz.Biden.2.1653457.html VP Biden Campaigns For Democrat Critz]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} KDKA, April 23, 2010. Accessed April 27, 2010.

"Most of my friends, their folks worked in the mill or were small business owners," Critz told the National Journal about his upbringing. "There were hundreds of thousands of families that relied on steel directly, and when that started to fade the area got hit pretty hard." The National Journal also wrote that, after his college graduation, Critz "struggled to find work in the decimated local economy" and he “left the region for a job managing a Roy Rogers restaurant in Wilmington, Delaware” in 1987.{{cite web|title=Rep. Mark Critz (D)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/mark-critz-pa/|work=National Journal}} In addition to Roy Rogers, Critz served as a manager for Spherical Concepts and American Eagle Outfitters.

He then took landscaping and construction jobs before becoming a volunteer for Congressman John Murtha in 1994. Four years later, he took a paying job on Murtha's staff, eventually rising to the position of District Director.[https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-04-21-murtha-seat-gop_N.htm?csp=34 Murtha's open Pa. seat gives GOP hope] Kathy Kiely, USA Today. Accessed April 27, 2010. Critz focused on district issues, serving as Murtha's liaison to the Flight 93 Memorial committee and the Que Creek Mine disaster site.

PoliticsPA reported that "Critz...attended a 2005 meeting with defense contractors and lobbyists and offered the Congressman's [Murtha's] support for an earmark project that ended in the criminal convictions of three men."{{cite web|title=Critz Attended Meeting on Earmark Project|url=http://www.politicspa.com/archiv/roll-call-critz-attended-meeting-on-earmark-project/|publisher=Politics PA}}

Critz was recognized for his service to the military when he was awarded the Patrick Henry Award by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). It is the highest civilian award issued by the National Guard.{{cite web|url=http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/about-mark |title=About Mark - Mark Critz for Congress |accessdate=2011-11-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921013111/http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/about-mark |archivedate=2011-09-21 }}

;Special 2010 election

{{Main|2010 Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election}}

After Murtha's death in February 2010, Critz, with the support of Murtha's widow and the Democratic Party, decided to run for the vacant seat in a May special election. He announced on February 22, 2010, that he would resign his position with the 12th Congressional District and seek the Democratic nomination to run in the special election, which was held on May 18, 2010.[http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/critz-announcement 2010 Special Election announcement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730043323/http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/critz-announcement |date=2010-07-30 }} Mark Critz Campaign site, February 22, 1010. Accessed April 27, 2010. In the wake of his selection to run in the special election, Critz released a statement saying "he would make

economic development his No. 1 priority in Congress."{{cite web |url=http://www.politicspa.com/archiv/breaking-news-executive-committee-picks-critz/ |title=PoliticsPA: Executive Committee picks Critz in race to replace Murtha |date=9 March 2010 |publisher=PoliticsPA |accessdate=23 June 2012}} On March 8, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee followed the recommendation of the district officials by nominating Critz. Of the 49 votes cast by the Committee members, Critz received 30.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_067234651.html|title=State Dems back Critz|date=March 8, 2010|accessdate=March 9, 2010|work=The Tribune-Democrat|first=Mike|last=Faher|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204164610/http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_067234651.html#|archive-date=2013-02-04|url-status=dead}}

Critz was endorsed by Vice President Joe Biden, who also campaigned for Critz in early 2010. In March 2010, Critz received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO of Pennsylvania.[http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/pa-afl-cio-endorses-mark-critz-for-congress PA AFL-CIO Endorses Mark Critz for Congress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730043231/http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/pa-afl-cio-endorses-mark-critz-for-congress |date=2010-07-30 }} Mark Critz Campaign site, accessed April 27, 2010. Critz received an 86% approval rating from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO){{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org|title=Project Vote Smart - The Voter's Self Defense System|work=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=11 May 2015}} In April he received an endorsement from the United Mine Workers.[http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/united-mine-workers-endorse-mark-critz-for-congress United Mine Workers Endorse Mark Critz for Congress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426232425/http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/united-mine-workers-endorse-mark-critz-for-congress |date=2010-04-26 }} Accessed April 27, 2010. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare endorsed Critz.{{cite web|url=http://critz.house.gov/news/press-releases/2011/04/critz-joins-colleagues-and-senior-groups-to-speak-out-against-the-republican-2012-budget-proposal.shtml |title=Critz Joins Colleagues and Senior Groups to Speak Out Against the Republican 2012 Budget Proposal - Rep. Critz |accessdate=2011-11-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507200549/http://critz.house.gov/news/press-releases/2011/04/critz-joins-colleagues-and-senior-groups-to-speak-out-against-the-republican-2012-budget-proposal.shtml |archivedate=2012-05-07 }}

Critz defeated Republican businessman Tim Burns 53%-45%.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=35&OfficeID=11|title=2010 Special Election for the 12th Congressional District|accessdate=May 19, 2010|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522155728/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=35&OfficeID=11#|archive-date=2010-05-22|url-status=dead}}

;Regular 2010 election

{{Main|United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010#District 12}}

In 2010, Critz spent a total of $2,428,377.66 on his campaign. His top contributors were Progeny Systems, Mepco LLC, and Concurrent Technologies. Critz defeated Burns in a rematch 51%-49%.

;2012

{{Main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania#District 12}}

Critz decided to run in the newly redrawn 12th district, which had been pushed to the west to absorb much of the old 4th district. He defeated 4th District incumbent Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary. However, Critz could not overcome the redder hue of his redrawn district, and was defeated by Altmire's 2010 opponent, Keith Rothfus, 52%-48%.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/House/2012/PA|title=2014 Election Results Senate: Map by State, Live Midterm Voting Updates|work=POLITICO|accessdate=11 May 2015}}

;2022

{{Main|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania#District 13}}

In June 2022, Critz became the Democratic nominee for the redrawn 13th district, receiving 967 votes as a write-in candidate.{{cite web |url=https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/electioninfo/CandidateInfo.aspx?ID=20962 |title=Candidate Information – Critz, Mark |date=June 10, 2022 |website=Pennsylvania Department of State |at=Results tab |access-date=July 19, 2022 }} He would have faced incumbent John Joyce but declined to run.{{cite news |title=House District 13: Pennsylvania Primary Results (R) |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/results/pennsylvania/republican-primaries/us-house-district-13 |access-date=7 June 2022 |work=CNN |date=7 June 2022}}

Critz voted for Congressional adjournment in Sept 2010. Adjournment foes sought an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts before the November elections.{{cite web|url=http://matheson.house.gov/pdf/PelosiHoyer_MarginalTaxRatesExtension_091510.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-10-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007041510/http://matheson.house.gov/pdf/PelosiHoyer_MarginalTaxRatesExtension_091510.pdf |archivedate=2010-10-07 }} Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer signed by 31 Democrats, accessed October 7, 2010. The adjournment resolution passed 210–209.[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll546.xml] Clerk of the House Roll Call 546, accessed October 7, 2010. He voted against the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which passed the House in July 2010 by a vote of 239–192.[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll413.xml] Clerk of the House Roll Call 546, accessed October 8, 2010.

Critz received a 100% approval rating from both The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. In 2009, he received a 50% approval rating from the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and a 100% approval rating from the Society for Animal Protective Legislation.

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and the National Association for the Self-Employed gave Critz a 100% approval rating. He received an 85% approval rating from The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and he received a 50% approval rating from the interest group for Federally Employed Women. He opposes "Cap and Trade" and emissions trading in the American Clean Energy and Security Act. On October 12, 2011, Critz voted against free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. He says that he supports fair trade

Critz campaigned on the platform that "Social Security is a contract between the government and Americans who have spent their entire lives working, and it is one the government must honor. I will fight all schemes to gamble your social security on the stock market."{{cite web|url=http://www.critzforcongress.com|title=Built For Designers & Developers|work=critzforcongress.com|accessdate=11 May 2015}} He opposed privatization and a higher retirement age.

Critz described himself as pro-life, and has received a 100% approval rating from the National Right to Life Committee. He received a 0% approval from Planned Parenthood. He voted no on July 1, 2010, to limit Afghanistan military funding to withdrawal and other specified purposes and to require a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also voted no on March 17, 2011, to removing troops from Afghanistan.

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
• Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
• Subcommittee on Military Personnel
• Committee on Small Business
• Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce

• Congressional Coal Caucus
• Congressional Military Families Caucus
• Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
• Congressional Research and Development Caucus
• Congressional Rural Education Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Marcellus Shale Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus

Critz told a radio show host on August 14, 2013, that he would be a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the 2014 election to challenge incumbent Republican Jim Cawley.{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Keegan|title=Critz to Run for Lieutenant Governor|url=http://www.politicspa.com/critz-to-run-for-lieutenant-governor/50095/|publisher=PoliticsPA|accessdate=14 August 2013}} He lost the May 20 primary to State Senator Mike Stack.[http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ Unofficial results Pennsylvania Department of State]

Critz went on to work for the campaign of Tom Wolf, who defeated incumbent Tom Corbett.

In April 2015, Mark Critz began work as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Rural Development Council.

Critz, his wife Nancy, and their two children, reside in Johnstown.

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.critzforcongress.com Mark Critz] official campaign site
• {{CongLinks | congbio=C001081 | votesmart=119481 | fec=H0PA12132 | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|9267898}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:American people of Slovak descent

Category:American people of Italian descent

Category:American politicians of Polish descent

Category:Indiana University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Category:Politicians from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Category:United States congressional aides

Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives