Update: Mustio to Run for Pippy's Seat

Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, said he will vie for departing Sen. John Pippy's seat in the November race.

Mustio's bid for the 37th state senatorial district comes on the heels of Allegheny Councilman Vince Gastgeb's announcement that he will end his campaign for Pippy's seat just five days after it began.

Mustio, who last week Gastgeb, said he chose to enter the race after the county councilman said he would no longer seek the position.

Pippy, of Moon, said last week that he will .

"Yes it is [a result of Gastgeb's departure]," Mustio said. "There were people who had approached me about it along the way. Me and [State Rep. and Pennsylvania auditor general candidate] John Maher and Vince [Gastgeb] had talked about it.

"It was important to me that as a representative I had a person in the senate that I could work closely with, and I felt that was going to be Vince, but after he chose to no longer run, I decided that I would," Mustio said.

Gastgeb, who has been a county councilman since 1999, said personal reasons influenced his decision to end his candidacy just days after it began.

“While this was not an easy decision professionally, it is the best family and personal decision, which is much more important,” Gastgeb said.

"I have been fortunate to have had outstanding personal support," Gastgeb said. "As such, I would like to acknowledge State Rep. Mark Mustio for his support and confidence. I could not have asked for a better partner from such an outstanding public servant as Rep. Mustio."

Gastgeb, of Bethel Park, said he plans to continue to serve on Allegheny County Council.

From Gastgeb's statement:

“I want to offer my thanks to the many people who have engaged and have provided support to my campaign. The campaign was truly going well with much interest and support. However, due to family and personal considerations, I must suspend the campaign and withdraw from the race for the State Senate 37th district. I have given this decision a lot of thought, and this decision is in the best interest of me and my family.”

Mustio, who was elected to the state House in 2003, said he hopes to make jobs and infrastructure the focus of his work in the state senate.

"I'm looking forward to running," he said. "I think I'm very qualified and I've got the voting record. We're going to continue to focus on jobs and infrastructure, just like we have here in the [Pittsburgh International] airport corridor, but now with a much larger territory."