D. Raja to Challenge Mustio in Republican Race for 37th District

D. Raja, the Mt. Lebanon businessman who lost his bid last year to become Allegheny County chief executive, will challenge state Rep. Mark Mustio for the Republican nomination for the seat that Sen. John Pippy vacated.  

Raja, a Republican, has formally filed his petition for the race, according to a list that the Pennsylvania Department of State released today. Click the media in the article to view a full list of candidates. 

No Democratic candidates have filed in the race to represent the 37th District. The deadline to submit petitions is today. 

Raja, founder of IT and software company Computer Enterprises Inc., will run against Mustio, R-North Fayette, who said in January that he would run for Pippy's seat.

Mustio is also seeking re-election in the state House.

Republican Ron Steele, a member of the Moon Area School Board, and Democrat Mark Scappe, former school board president, have joined the race for Mustio's state House seat, according to the division of elections. 

Steele, who is managing director of the Pittsburgh-based Regency Consulting Services, was elected to a two-year term on the school board in November. He previously served on the board from 1993 to 2001. 

Scappe, who in November lost his bid for a six-year term on the board, is vice president of the Coraopolis company RBS Consultants. He served on the school board since 1999. The Allegheny County Democratic Committee has endorsed him.