Republican Steve McDonald was formally announcing his campaign for state senator this morning.

McDonald, of Neffsville, is challenging longtime Sen. Gibson Armstrong in next May's Republican primary.

McDonald is serving his third four-year term as Lancaster County's elected recorder of deeds. He has been active in Republican politics for more than 20 years, having made his first bid for public office in 1994, when he unsuccessfully challenged Democratic state Rep. P. Michael Sturla, of Lancaster.

McDonald also ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for county commissioner in 2003.

Despite his history in politics, McDonald is casting himself as a political outsider and a reformer in his race against Armstrong, a six-term incumbent.

"You have to fight the status quo and the establishment that keeps people like Gib Armstrong in power," McDonald said in an interview last week.

He did not return a phone call for comment this morning.

McDonald's announcement today was to take place at the Risser farm, on Shreiner Road, Leola. This week, McDonald campaigned for the office at the Solanco Fair. His candidacy had been rumored for months.

According to information released by his campaign and on his campaign Web site, www.mcdonaldforreform.com, McDonald pledges "No Perks. No Pension. No midnight Pay Raise."

His statement is an indirect attack on Armstrong, who voted for the controversial legislative pay raise in July 2005.

The 16 percent to 54 percent pay raise was repealed in the face of widespread voter anger. Armstrong returned the additional pay before the repeal was enacted.

Two powerful state senators, then Pro Tempore Robert Jubilerer, of Altoona, and then Majority Leader David Brightbill, of Lebanon County, lost their re-election bids in 2006 following the pay raise debacle.

The primary will be the first time Armstrong has faced voters since then.

Armstrong also did not immediately return a call for comment this morning.

Armstrong has not announced whether he will seek re-election next year.

Armstrong's 13th Senate district includes southern Lancaster County, Lancaster City and parts of York County.

CONTACT US: bharris@LNPnews.com or 481-6022