Pocono News Section

Scranton Mayor to Seek State Senate Seat

Scranton Mayor to Seek State Senate Seat - Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 05:34AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Thursday, Feb 18, 2010 @ 05:34am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - The mayor of Scranton is running for higher office -- but there's a change in his campaign plans.

Eyewitness News obtained an email that Chris Doherty sent, Wednesday, confirming he's abandoning his run for governor and will instead campaign for state senate.
Doherty will publicly announce his candidacy at a news conference Thursday morning at 11 o'clock at The Commonwealth Medical College construction site.

A Scranton Times-Tribune report last week indicated Doherty was first considering abandoning a run for governor in favor of a lieutenant governor candidacy -- although he told Eyewitness News at the time he was still running for governor.
But that was just before longtime democratic lawmaker Senator Bob Mellow said he would not seek re-election after 10-terms in office.
Doherty explained in his e-mail that the issues in the senate race are the same as governor but by serving as state senator, he could put his focus squarely on bettering northeastern Pennsylvania.

It's also believed by switching to a campaign for senate, Doherty will have a better chance of being elected to a position in Harrisburg.
Polls showed him lagging behind in a crowded race for governor.
He came away from this month's state democratic party meeting without a nomination.
Now, he'll throw his hat into the 22nd district senate race that so far includes fellow democrats State Representative Jim Wansacz and Scranton School Board member Chris Phillips.
That race is expected to get even more crowded in the coming weeks.

Doherty will follow up his Thursday morning news conference by holding a petition signing party Thursday evening at Kildare's in downtown Scranton.