SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The campaign for Mayor of Scranton is ramping up. The Republican candidate for mayor, Trish Beynon, is challenging Mayor Paige Cognetti's decision to run dual campaigns: One for re-election and a run for the Eighth Congressional District Seat.
Beynon insists that the taxpayers of Scranton will be, in her words, shortchanged by Mayor Congetti as she runs a dual campaign.
Mayor Cognetti says that is simply not the case and will continue to work for the residents of Scranton.
Republican Mayoral Candidate for Scranton Mayor Trish Beynon held a news conference Wednesday morning in front of Scranton City Hall.
"This past week, Mayor Cognetti announced that she'll not only run for re-election as Mayor but also for Congress in our district. I believe doing both at the same time comes at the expense of Scranton taxpayers and it's abandoning the very people she promised to serve," Beynon said.
Beynon says she's aware that running dual campaigns has been done all across the nation for generations, but insists.
"There's no law against running two campaigns at once; however, I think ethically, amorally, she should have stepped down from the Primary and not run into the General Election for 2026 because again, I don't feel she 'll be able to give the City of Scranton taxpayers all of the time and energy that they deserve," Beynon continued.
School worker accused of taping students’ mouths files lawsuit
Cognetti says that is simply not true. She released the following statement:
As I said when I announced that I am running for Congress, this was not my plan. But neither was running for mayor in 2019. When I see that we are in trouble, I step up.
An unchecked Congress is voting away the economic and healthcare foundations of our families and seniors, and stripping cities, townships, and counties of the ability to defend ourselves from flooding and weather events.
As mayor of Scranton these past six years, I know how devastating these short-sighted cuts will be. Continued chaos in DC will inhibit Scranton’s ability to build on the substantial progress we’ve made with the city’s finances and continue to foster an economy that adds businesses, jobs, and revenues.
We have built a solid foundation for a brighter future — restoring confidence through responsible government and reimagining outdated ways of doing business. We will keep delivering in Scranton and I will also work to make DC work for us, not against us as it is now.
It’s my intention to deliver the many successes we’ve advanced in Scranton to everyone living in Northeastern PA.
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti
On the streets of Scranton, 28/22 News found mixed opinions on dual candidacies. Some agree with Beynon, while others, like Craig Fisher from Scott Township, told 28/22 News the following:
"I don't have an issue for it, not really, specifically thinking about the Mayor of Scranton. I think she'll be a good in the role in Congress. I think there would be an easy transition in the City of Scranton to bring somebody else in," Fisher explained.
Below is the full release from Republican mayoral candidate Patricia "Trish" Beynon:
