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Mayoral Candidates Vote In Scranton

SCRANTON — Voters across our area are going to the polls on this general election day.  One of the biggest races is the race for mayor in Scranton. Republ...

SCRANTON -- Voters across our area are going to the polls on this general election day.  One of the biggest races is the race for mayor in Scranton.

Republican James Mulligan was the first to cast his ballot, arriving at the polling place on Boulevard Avenue with his wife and three children of voting age.

Mulligan said he really wants the job, in spite of Scranton being financially distressed.  This attorney believes he can fix the city.

“It's a city in distress and I think I have a comprehensive plan with will allow the city to ultimately emerge from distress,” Mulligan said.

Mulligan got into the race when the Republican candidate who won in the primary dropped out.  He called the campaign an incredible journey.

The polling place at Robert Morris Elementary in the city's Green Ridge section was an interesting place. It was a place where the soon-to-be past met with the possible future.

Mayor Chris Doherty also voted there.  He chose to not seek reelection after three terms.  He inherited a financially distressed city.  He leaves a financially distressed city, but Doherty believes the city is better off than it was 12 years ago.

People live in downtown Scranton.  Look at our crime.  We have the lowest crime in any major city inside the state.  Look at our park system.  Outstanding. By any measure, we are far better off today than we were twelve years ago,” Doherty said.

Doherty did not say what he will do after he leaves city hall, but he did promise an announcement in January.

The democrat who wants to replace Doherty is current tax collector Bill Courtright.  He cast his ballot at the Keyser Valley Community Center.

“It sounds clichéd, but I love this city.  I don't want to see it go under.  I'm a hard worker.  I've never backed away from a challenge.  So I'm going to give it my best shot and bring the city back.  Not me, but all the people in the city,” said Courtright.

Courtright and Mulligan disagree over quite a bit, but both believe the candidate Scranton voters think can put the city back on solid financial ground, will be the one voters send to city hall for the next four years.

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