During his 1994 run for Pennsylvania governor, he accused his
Democratic opponent, former Lt. Governor Mark Singel, of being soft on
criminals. Singel, who chaired the state's Pardons Board, voted for the
July 1994 release of convicted murderer Reginald McFadden. Soon after
his release, McFadden was back in jail, following a killing rampage in
New York. The McFadden notoriety prompted Ridge to create television
ads critical of Singel's history of voting to commute the life
sentences of numerous convicts, including murderers. After the ads were
shown, Singel lost his lead in the polls, leading to Ridge's election
victory.