Rep. Ron Miller (R-York) and conservative activist Scott Wagner launched television ads in their battle for the special election to replace resigning Senator Mike Waugh (R-York).

Waugh’s resignation triggered a special election, forcing the York County Republican Party to vote on their nominee, superseding an open primary. The special will be held later this month, with Miller as the official Republican candidate and Linda Small as the Democrat, but Wagner is making a serious go at a write-in candidacy.

He’s been advertising extensively online, including PoliticsPA, and took his campaign to television in early January with a biographical ad showing the farm where he grew up.

“We need to fix Harrisburg; the system is not working for people, it’s working for the career politicians,” he says at the end of the ad. “Please join me so we can make Harrisburg work for citizens again.”

Miller is apparently taking the write-in campaign seriously and has launched an attack ad against Wagner this week.

“Millionaire Scott Wagner is spewing all kinds of garbage again, trying to buy another election,” the ad says, before cataloging the $131,000 Wagner spent trying to elect a primary challenger against Congressman Todd Platts and the money he spent on a county court race.

“With millionaire trash man Scott Wagner, something doesn’t smell right,” the ad concludes.

According to FCC reports, Miller is spending $21,925 to run the ads on WGAL and WHTM.

Wagner is the president and founder of Penn Waste, and he addressed the claims in a statement earlier this week.

“I am proud to say that I have received over 240 contributions from small business owners and hard working men and women who have put their trust in me to represent them and be their voice in Harrisburg,” he wrote. “A second statement accuses “Wagner” of having numerous environmental violations. My company, Penn Waste, has a stellar reputation in the community. Any attacks on me personally or my company are an insult to all of the hardworking employees that are a part of our team, our county owned disposal facilities, the customers and the communities we serve.”