FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2006

Mt. Lebanon, PA – Matt Smith, Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania State Representative in the 42nd District, expressed his deep disappointment over a negative and misleading web advertisement released by his opponent.

After almost six months of direct positive campaigning by Smith, his opponent released a web video which exposed his opponent's desperation at this stage of the campaign. Not coincidentally, Mark Harris' negative ad comes on the heels of Matt's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial endorsement. "I am very disappointed to see that my opponent reacted to my positive endorsement with a negative ad," Smith stated. Harris took a brief snippet of an answer by Smith at a local debate, but neglected to play the answer in its entirety. Harris falsely accused Smith of being backed by " Harrisburg insiders" and neglected to note his own keen interest in support from the House Republican Campaign Committee.

The hypocrisy in Mr. Harris' false statement is evident by the following. In July 2006, Harris told Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire that "We have not received any HRCC money and our understanding is that it is unlikely we are to receive any because of the demands in the Southeast by incumbent members. I certainly am willing to work with the HRCC, but I have been told they don't have the money."

Smith added, "My opponent has described his own occupation as a 'politician.' His ad taking selective parts of an answer I provided is an example of the problem with our politics and discourse today and I believe we need more people with private sector experience in Harrisburg and not another politician like my opponent."

Matt Smith is a small business attorney, born in Bethel Park and currently resides in Mt. Lebanon with his wife Eileen. The 42nd District includes Mt. Lebanon, Green Tree, Rosslyn Farms, Thornburg, and parts of Bethel Park and Scott Township.

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