Cambria County Controller Ed Cernic has dropped out of the contest for the congressional seat of the late John P. Murtha, saying he was endorsing Mr. Murtha's former district director Mark Critz.

Mr. Cernic announced Saturday he was withdrawing from the race in the 12th Congressional District. The move further narrows a field that once boasted five Democratic candidates and gives Mr. Critz a clearer field in his home turf of Cambria County.

The Pennsylvania Democratic executive committee earlier this month gave the Democratic nomination for the May 18 special election to Mr. Critz, but he still faced a primary ballot challenge from Mr. Cernic as well as Ryan Bucchianeri, a Navy veteran from Washington County.

Mr. Bucchianeri said he intends to remain in the May 18 Democratic Primary for a nomination to a full term in Congress.

"I continue to be committed to this race. The people of this region want a change from the same old Washington politics and I am offering them that choice," Mr. Bucchianeri said.

Mr. Critz faces Republican Tim Burns, a businessman from Eighty Four, in the special election. Mr. Burns, in turn, faces a party primary challenge for the full term from Bill Russell, a retired career Army officer from Johnstown.

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