Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty announced Tuesday he is running for governor of Pennsylvania.
Doherty just won a third term as mayor of Scranton last week. Now he is setting his sights even higher for 2010.
The Democrat mayor said his gubernatorial campaign will be based on creating jobs and investing in Pennsylvania's big cities and small communities.
"This state built this country and it was the little towns like Tamaqua and Mansfield," Doherty said.
Supporters gathered in the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue, the site of a major commercial and residential project, to show their support for the man who has run the city of Scranton since 2002.
"He did good for the city as mayor, in my opinion," said John Beebe.
"Tons of my friends have gone away to school and come back downtown to live and work, and he's made tons of progress," said University of Scranton student Casey Thran.
Doherty said even though he's just won another four-year term as mayor, he's not worried about balancing his current job with his campaign.
"My style of running the city has always been the same. I hire people, they run their departments. We talk together all the time and I'm here, and I'm going to have to make it work," the mayor said.
"I don't think he should. I think he should just stick to being mayor," said Courtney Taylor of Scranton.
"It'll actually help the city because people will see a hometown guy bring home some hometown issues," said Eddie Farmer of Scranton.
Some supporters are already thinking about who will run the city if Doherty is victorious.
"I don't know who we're going to get. I know who we've got, but I don't know who we're going to get. That's going to be a big worry for me," said Doherty supporter Sharla Ledbetter.
"Maybe his wife could be mayor," Beebe added.
Before we think about that, Doherty has to win the Democratic ticket in the primaries this spring.
So far it looks like he will be facing off against four other Democrats, including auditor general Jack Wagner, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, former Congressman Joe Hoeffel and Dan Onorato from western Pennsylvania.
Doherty just won a third term as mayor of Scranton last week. Now he is setting his sights even higher for 2010.
The Democrat mayor said his gubernatorial campaign will be based on creating jobs and investing in Pennsylvania's big cities and small communities.
"This state built this country and it was the little towns like Tamaqua and Mansfield," Doherty said.
Supporters gathered in the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue, the site of a major commercial and residential project, to show their support for the man who has run the city of Scranton since 2002.
"He did good for the city as mayor, in my opinion," said John Beebe.
"Tons of my friends have gone away to school and come back downtown to live and work, and he's made tons of progress," said University of Scranton student Casey Thran.
Doherty said even though he's just won another four-year term as mayor, he's not worried about balancing his current job with his campaign.
"My style of running the city has always been the same. I hire people, they run their departments. We talk together all the time and I'm here, and I'm going to have to make it work," the mayor said.
"I don't think he should. I think he should just stick to being mayor," said Courtney Taylor of Scranton.
"It'll actually help the city because people will see a hometown guy bring home some hometown issues," said Eddie Farmer of Scranton.
Some supporters are already thinking about who will run the city if Doherty is victorious.
"I don't know who we're going to get. I know who we've got, but I don't know who we're going to get. That's going to be a big worry for me," said Doherty supporter Sharla Ledbetter.
"Maybe his wife could be mayor," Beebe added.
Before we think about that, Doherty has to win the Democratic ticket in the primaries this spring.
So far it looks like he will be facing off against four other Democrats, including auditor general Jack Wagner, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, former Congressman Joe Hoeffel and Dan Onorato from western Pennsylvania.
