SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The race for Scranton mayor is heating up ahead of next week's primary election. Voters will choose from both familiar faces and new challengers, all with different ideas on how to shape the city's future.
28/22 News has a closer look at who's on the ballot and what each candidate is bringing to the table.
From longtime public servants to first-time contenders, each hopeful has a different vision for the Electric City.
28/22 News spoke with each candidate to learn more about who they are and what they hope to accomplish if elected.
Incumbent Mayor Paige Cognetti is running for a second full term. She first won a special election in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. Her administration points to economic progress, increased transparency, and reinvestment in public safety and neighborhoods.
"We're excited to continue to invest in public safety, to keep that financial stability going, to make sure that we're pinching every penny, and to work on road safety as well. We really want to focus on the safety of our roads," Mayor Cognetti said.
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Cognetti faces a Democratic primary challenge from Bob Sheridan, a retired Scranton police officer and former school board president.
His campaign centers on public safety, blight removal, and restoring city services.
"I met a lot of people that might that I was born and raised with that moved out of town, okay it's about we wish we were back in scranton, because we had a move, because of the taxes, because of the roads, because of the blight, everything the city is going downhill, someone has to go and take charge of it," Sheridan explained.
On the Republican side, two women are hoping to win the GOP nomination.
Trish Beynon is running on her 34 years of experience in accounting and construction management. She's prioritizing tax relief, support for police, and making Scranton a more attractive place to live.
"If I became mayor, it's my job to work for the people, that's my goal, to just listen to everybody, make sure they know they have transparency in the city, and make sure that they know when they ask me a question, I have their best interest at heart," Beynon said.
Lynn Labrosky, a lifelong Scranton resident and small business owner. She's focused on eliminating wasteful spending, fully staffing the police department, and addressing homelessness and drug abuse.
"Our tax dollars should be spent in the best way they can. So I would try to generate more revenue into the city. I'll try to fix the roads fully staff our police department. Pick up the morale in our local unions, especially the fire the police, and the DPW," Labrosky stated.
Each of these candidates says they're ready to take on Scranton's challenges, but it's up to voters to decide who moves forward.
The primary election is Tuesday, May 20, and polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
