WILKES-BARRE – Standing in the entrance to Rodano’s on Public Square on Tuesday night, Tom Leighton couldn’t spend a second without shaking a hand, receiving a compliment or just taking time to talk to supporters of his just-announced decision to run for state Senate.

“This is probably not the best location,” Wilkes-Barre’s mayor pointed out – especially for an interview.

Not the best, but maybe the most fitting.

Leighton used Rodano’s as an example of the change he’s helped bring to Wilkes-Barre in his six years as mayor. A massive vacant building turned bustling Friday night hangout makes for good proof he can help the people of the 14th Senatorial District, Leighton said.

“Not too long ago, Wilkes-Barre was written off as a city in decline, thought never to return to its former prominence,” Leighton said during his address. “But with a strong committed vision from the community of political leaders, local business owners and the people of Wilkes-Barre, our city is on the road to recovery.”

Wilkes-Barre’s revamped downtown garnered much of the attention during Leighton’s announcement he’d run for the seat long held by retiring state Sen. Raphael Musto. Leighton wants to take that type of development to Pittston, Jim Thorpe and other communities in the 14th District, he said, promising to restore faith in government, create jobs and push for property tax relief.

“I have never shied away from making tough decisions, nor neglected to tackle the challenges confronting our community,” he said, “and so it will be in Harrisburg.”

With about two years left in his term as mayor, Leighton will remain in office during the campaign, he said, leaving only should he win the seat.

Though local political rumblings have had him pegged for a run since Musto retired Jan. 27, Leighton kept the news of his candidacy mostly quiet until Tuesday. And when the secret fell, it fell in party fashion.

Leighton’s supporters, as well as Democratic leaders such as Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla and county party Chairman Mark Bufalino, packed the bar/restaurant for the announcement. They chatted, grabbed pizza and generally just schmoozed in the bar, which was adorned with shamrocks and signs supporting Leighton.

The atmosphere was decidedly different than that of Leighton’s Democratic challenger, state Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke. Surrounded by construction workers, Yudichak entered the fray for the 14th District last week in an address at the construction site of the Culinary Arts Institute in Nanticoke.

Yudichak has welcomed Leighton’s competition, and Leighton has not shied from the challenge, either – though both so far have remained hospitable toward each other in public comments.

If anything, this particular Democratic race will pit two candidates with name recognition against each other in the May 18 primary, Wilkes University political science professor Tom Baldino said. Both have experience on which to run, he said, with Yudichak’s 12 years in the state House and Leighton’s two terms as Wilkes-Barre’s top administrator.

If the race remains civil, Baldino said, it could give each a chance to sharpen their campaign message before November’s general election.

“If you look at this race and it doesn’t degenerate into name-calling, whoever wins shouldn’t be any worse the wear except in the pocketbook,” he said.

The Luzerne County Democratic Party’s executive committee will meet sometime before the primary, Bufalino said, and decide whether it will endorse a candidate.

Asked at Rodano’s about any potential endorsement, Wilkes-Barre City Council President Bill Barrett had a tough time answering the question, commending the service of both Leighton and Yudichak. He didn’t, however, hesitate to point out the job Leighton has done in Wilkes-Barre, the backdrop of the downtown providing a picture of change.

“That speaks for itself,” Barrett said.

astaub@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2052

by BILL O ’ BOYLE, Times Leader

WILKES-BARRE – Mayor Tom Leighton announced Tuesday that he wants to be Sen. Leighton.

At a press conference at Rodano’s downtown, the mayor told a large crowd of supporters what many of them already knew – he is running for the Democratic nomination in the 14th Senatorial District.

He joins fellow Democrat state Rep. John Yudichak of Nanticoke as the only two announced candidates for the seat currently held by the retiring state Sen. Raphael Musto, D-Pittston Township. Musto, 80, will leave office Nov. 30.

With his family and an estimated 350 people looking on – many of them city employees and elected officials – Leighton said he has “never been prouder” of the city.

“I am proud to say I have been part of returning this city to its rightful place – a place we all can be proud to call home,” he said. “For 12 years as a councilman and the last six years as mayor, I have retained a strong commitment and clear vision as the city has traveled this road to recovery.”

Leighton said he enjoys driving through the city and seeing houses being built, public parks with children playing, businesses thriving and tourists returning.

“The dream is becoming a reality,” he said. “No more negativity; no more fiscal irresponsibility.”

Leighton said he has proven he can “get the job done” and said he welcomes the opportunity to serve the people of the 14th Senatorial District.

“I have gotten results for the city of Wilkes-Barre,” he said. “I can get results in Harrisburg.”

Leighton said he was “angered” by the 101-day budget impasse in Harrisburg, and he said he will work with members of both parties to effect change for the district and the state.

“I will always have my eye on the future,” Leighton said. “I will work to restore faith in government for the people of Northeast Pennsylvania. That’s why I announce today my candidacy for the state Senate.”

A loud ovation followed as Leighton hugged his wife, Patty, and children Kelly Lynn, Courtney and Thomas, his mother, Nancy, and brother, Patrick.

The mayor said it has been the greatest honor of his life to serve the city for 18 years.

“Not too long ago, Wilkes-Barre was written off as a city in decline, thought never to return to its former prominence,” he said.

Leighton pointed to achievements such as Barnes & Noble, Movies 14, Coal Street Park, the Intermodal Transportation Center, new streetlights, Gateway Corners, Elevations Lofts and the River Common to make his point.

“We have rescued this city from the pessimism which for so long hindered its economic rebirth,” he said.

Leighton said he wants to broaden his focus and responsibility.

He said his first priority will be to help create jobs for working-class families – well-paying and sustainable jobs in manufacturing, construction, green energy and high tech fields, not only service-sector jobs. He said he also wants to see better schools for every student, improved roads and infrastructure investment, and affordable health care for all, particularly for children.

“I want to protect our seniors as well and see that vital services like renter’s assistance and public transportation are maintained,” he said. “And we must tackle property tax relief.”

Leighton said he looks forward to a good campaign and injected Musto’s name throughout his speech.

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla attended, along with Mark Bufalino, chairman of the county Democratic Committee. U.S. senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter were represented as was U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

Before I begin, I would like to thank my family. I would not be standing where I am today without their love and support. My wife, Patty, my daughters, Kelly Lynn and Courtney, my son, Tom Jr., my mother, Nancy Leighton, and my brother Patrick, who is here with me today. Throughout my career of public service, they have made sacrifices as well and I am indebted to them for that.

Most importantly, I would like to thank the people of the City of Wilkes-Barre.

It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you these past 18 years, especially the last 6 years as your mayor. With the trust you placed in me, we overcame many challenges together and have restored this great city to its rightful place as a city we can be proud to call home.

I have devoted the majority of my life and career to serving my hometown and I have never been prouder of this city and its citizens.

Not too long ago, Wilkes-Barre was written off as a city in decline, thought never to return to its former prominence. But with strong commitment and vision from community and political leaders, local business owners, and the people of Wilkes-Barre, our city is on the road to recovery.

As I drive through the city today, I see houses built where abandoned properties once stood. I see public parks used by young families not drug dealers. I see nationally recognized businesses locating downtown. I see tourists returning to Wilkes-Barre.

We dreamt of a future where families felt safe in their neighborhoods and downtown, where neighborhoods overcame blighted properties and saw a rebirth of housing development, where fiscal sanity allowed the city to invest in its own development, where new businesses chose to start up downtown creating new jobs and economic opportunity, where residents did not desert the downtown once night fell, and where our best and brightest talent did not yearn to escape the city forever.

Barnes & Noble, Movie Theater, Coal St. Park, Intermodal, Streetlights, Gateway Corners, Elevations Lofts, Riverfront.

We believed together and today the dream is a reality!

We have rescued this city from the pessimism which for so long hindered its economic rebirth. We have reversed the fiscal irresponsibility that smothered Wilkes-Barre’s needed recovery. We restored the public’s faith that a functioning, responsible, and ethical government that served the voter’s interests was not an idealistic fantasy but a solid reality.

At a time when taxpayers are frustrated by government gridlock and paralysis, I have proven that I can get things done. I have delivered results in Wilkes-Barre.

And so, with my record of achievement and dedication to public service, with an eye towards the future and what can be accomplished, I announce my candidacy for state senator in the 14th District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I seek this office to help restore faith in good government to the honorable people of NEPA.
I want to broaden my focus and responsibility.

I want to revitalize Pittston, Nanticoke, Hazleton, Plymouth, Wyoming, Yatesville, Banks Township, and Pocono Township, and the entire district in the way that Wilkes-Barre has been.

My first priority will be to help create jobs for working-class families. Well-paying and sustainable jobs in manufacturing, construction, green energy and high tech fields, not only service sector jobs.

That will require a thorough review of the business tax structure of the Commonwealth. Businesses, especially small businesses look to the state for a fair, competitive and level playing field to attract jobs. I want to help create that market.

I want to see better schools for every student, improved roads and infrastructure investment, and affordable health care for all our citizens, particularly our children.

I want protect our seniors as well and see that vital services like renters assistance and public transportation are maintained. And we must tackle property tax relief.

We simply must continue to reduce property taxes. They’ve been reduced slightly under Gov. Rendell, but more must be done. Lawmakers must give this issue their undivided attention immediately. The taxpayers demand it.
In the campaign ahead, I will define my plans to address these issues in more detail but I wanted to outline some of my priorities tonight.

As many Pennsylvanians were, I was angered and frustrated by the 101 day state budget impasse last year. In these tough economic times, cities require every bit of funding available to us which often is supplied by the state government. As mayor, I personally saw how the failure to reach a compromise agreement hurt cities like Wilkes-Barre.

The call to service has defined my life and career. Before I ever ran for public office, I volunteered in the community. I was a member of many community based organizations diverse in responsibility but singular in their commitment to improve the community around them.

I was a legislator for 12 years as a member of Wilkes-Barre City Council.

As mayor for the past six years, I have built a broad coalition of private and public partnerships to foster the economic growth and revitalization which the City of Wilkes-Barre so desperately needed.

I forged support between a variety of competing organizations behind the singular goal of rebuilding this community and I have championed innovative sources of funding for development projects which has made the City of Wilkes-Barre a pioneering American city.

Send me to Harrisburg and I will build upon that legislative foundation and all of my executive experience to aid the entire 14th district.

People should expect leadership and ethical competency from their representatives and senators at every level of government and that is what the people can expect from me in the state senate.

I have never shied away from making tough decisions nor neglected to tackle the challenges confronting our community and so it will be in Harrisburg.

I have always crossed partisan lines to benefit the entire community and I promise to continue to reach across the aisle and forge the same partnerships in Harrisburg which have produced results in Wilkes-Barre.

I am running to serve the entire 14th district not only the Democrats of the 14th. Regardless of party, you will find an open door to my office.

I pledge here tonight to act in the best interests of the entire district. I will not promise that you will always agree with my votes or policy proposals but I will promise that they will be votes guided by principle.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” I am honored to have answered that call throughout my life.

Senator Ray Musto also answered that call of a lifetime of service. He is a public servant of impeccable character who has graced his office with integrity and served the people of his district with distinction. I hope to live up to the precedent he has established.

The changing of the guard is inevitable and now the time comes for new leadership to pick up the standard and carry the will of the people to Harrisburg. I humbly ask you to send me on that journey. Vote for me on May 18th and together our community and our district will continue to be a shining example of what can be

achieved!

Thank you very much and goodnight.

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