RICES LANDING, Pa.—Pennsylvania Democrats have chosen a southwestern Pennsylvania county commissioner to run for the state House seat vacated by former House Speaker Bill DeWeese following his corruption conviction.

The Democratic State Committee on Saturday chose Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder to run in November for the 50th District House seat representing Greene, Fayette and Washington counties.

Fifty-six-year-old Snyder, a commissioner for nine years, was the unanimous choice of committee members meeting Saturday in Rices Landing in the northeast corner of Greene County. She will face Republican Mark Fischer of Waynesburg.

DeWeese is serving a 2 1/2- to 5-year sentence on a conviction of having used state employees and other resources to bolster his election bids. He was trying to run for re-election but a judge last week ruled him ineligible for office.