He grew up in the Rolling Mill Hill section of Wilkes-Barre and graduated from Meyers High School.

[2] In 1977, Urban earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from King's College in Wilkes-Barre and in 1980 received a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

[7] The Times Leader reported in February that Urban, thus far, was running as a "stealth candidate," with little name recognition or publicity.

Both candidates opposed NAFTA, gun control, and foreign aid to Russia, but differed on immigration and budget issues.

[10] He also endorsed the idea of a constitutional amendment to mandate balanced budgets and voiced his opposition to abortion, except when the mother's life is at risk.

Urban lost the primary for lieutenant governor, finishing second to last,[18] but won the nomination for the 14th Senate District unopposed.

[14] The same year he ran concurrently for magisterial district judge, but lost the primary election.