John Pippy, a Republican state representative from Moon Township, stirred some controversy when he circulated campaign materials showing him wearing his U.S. Army Reserve captain's uniform. A Pentagon official found no wrongdoing on behalf of Pippy, who faces Democrat Paul Gitnik, an attorney from South Park, in a bid for a state Senate seat vacated by Tim Murphy.
Military regulations allow Army Reserve Capt. John Pippy to appear in uniform in campaign photos, but the Moon lawmaker cannot take office immediately if he wins a special election for the state Senate.
Maj. Steve Stover of the Army's public affairs division at the Pentagon said the photos, used in pamphlets and TV commercials, are acceptable as long as they weren't posed specifically for campaign material.
"It does not preclude photos of the candidate," Stover said of Army regulations.
Pippy, a Republican state representative, faces Democrat Paul Gitnik, a lawyer from South Park, in a March 11 special election. They are vying for the seat left vacant when Tim Murphy, an Upper St. Clair Republican, was elected to Congress.
Pippy, now at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, could be on active duty for at least a year. His unit was called up early last month.
The question about campaign use of photos of Pippy in uniform was raised by attorney Mark Goldner, an Upper St. Clair Democrat who attempted to get the nomination for the special election.
"I became concerned about John Pippy and his use of his military service in his campaign," said Goldner, a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Pippy's campaign literature includes a picture of him graduating from West Point and a photo of him in fatigues.
Allegheny County Republican Chairman Rich Stampahar said Pippy's military service is an asset.
"This is like apple pie, mother and the American flag," said Stampahar, a veteran of the Korean War era.
Gitnik hasn't addressed the issue directly. However, he has noted that he will be able to take office immediately if elected, unlike Pippy. Pippy cannot cast votes in the Legislature while on active duty.
Katherine Pippy said her husband if elected will still be a state senator and a soldier.
"Our offices will still be open but he will be on legislative leave while on active duty," Katherine Pippy said. "He wouldn't want to leave and has no plans on leaving the Army. He believes this is the best way for him to serve his constituents."
Goldner said he solicited the opinion of Alfred Arquilla, an attorney in Alexandria, Va., who spent six years as a military judge and 25 years in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. Arquilla said he wasn't sure if military regulations would allow Pippy to serve as a state senator while on active duty.
When Robert Jubelirer, president pro tempore of the state Senate, set the special election in March instead of having it in conjunction with the May 20 primary, he said he wanted someone representing the district sooner rather than later.
Legislative and military leaders are trying to make plans in case Pippy wins the election. Jubelirer spokesman David Atkinson has said officials will "have to make arrangements so that the district is served" if Pippy is unable to take the Senate seat quickly.
Pippy first would have to resign his House seat, which would not be a problem while he's on active duty, said state House Parliamentarian Clancy Myer.
"He can certainly resign his House seat without being here," Myer said.
But taking the oath of office as a state senator would be another matter entirely. Mark Corrigan, secretary of the Senate, said that if Pippy is elected while on active duty, the Legislature would be wading into uncharted waters.
"I don't know that there's a precedent for that," he said.
Stover said the Army was taking an apolitical stance and would address the issue if it develops.
Republicans hold a 28-21 edge in the Senate.
