Rep. Fred Keller won a seat in Congress. Voters will pick his replacement on Aug. 20

By: John L. Micek - May 28, 2019 11:44 am

A screenshot from Republican 12th Congressional District Fred Keller’s new campaign ad.

OK, voters of the 85th House District, get ready for another election.

On Tuesday, state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, announced he’s set an Aug. 20 special election date for the seat formerly held by Republican Rep. Fred Keller, who won last week’s special election for the 12th Congressional District.

Keller beat Democrat Marc Friedenberg, of Centre County, for a seat that’s been vacant since January, when five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Marino announced he was stepping down due to illness.

As ever, candidates for the office will be picked by local Republican and Democratic party chieftains. Turzai’s office said Tuesday that Keller’s legislative office, in Mifflinburg, Pa., is open for business. Constituents who need help can call (570) 966-0052 for assistance, or to make an appointment to see someone.

The website, www.RepFredKeller.com, “will also redirect constituents to many state documents and other helpful information,” Turzai’s office said in a statement.

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John L. Micek

A 3-decade veteran of the news business, John L. Micek is the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's Editor-in-Chief. An award-winning political reporter, Micek’s career has taken him from small town meetings and Chicago City Hall to Congress and the Pennsylvania Capitol. His weekly column on U.S. politics is syndicated to 800 newspapers nationwide by Cagle Syndicate. He also contributes commentary and analysis to broadcast outlets in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Micek’s first novel, “Ordinary Angels,” was released in 2019 by Sunbury Press.