SCRANTON -- Kathleen Kane hails from Scranton and her conviction may feel like deja vu for those in her home county.
The only other Pennsylvania attorney general to face corruption charges came from Lackawanna County, too.
Political corruption in Lackawanna County has been on display in the state and national media for years.
Now that Scranton native Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been convicted of corruption charges that unfortunate reputation carries even more weight.
What does it say about our area as a whole?
Kane was convicted Monday night on all counts against her and is facing a possible prison sentence.
Dr. Jean Harris is a professor at the University of Scranton--Kane’s alma mater. She says Kane's conviction can do a lot to hurt politics locally.
“There’s pros and cons to it. I think there’s corruption everywhere, again, unfortunately. The fact that ours has bubbled up could be seen as a good thing. If we then respond to it,” Harris said.
Dr. Harris thinks it could affect voter turnout in Kane’s home county or trust in government throughout the state.
“In the Kane calamity, there was grand jury leaking, but there was also grand jury leaking on the grand jury that investigated her. What has happened to that investigation? Let’s follow through on that.”
Lackawanna County voters haven't yet seen a positive change following decades of hearing about homegrown corruption. Two Lackawanna County commissioners, A.J. Munchak and Bob Cordaro, are currently serving prison sentences for corruption.
The only other state attorney general to face criminal charges was from Lackawanna County as well. Ernie Preate was sentenced to 14 months in prison back in 1995.
It might feel like we are known for political corruption, but folks visiting Scranton don't seem to think so.
Joe DeLeo is visiting with his family from New Jersey. They've read about Kathleen Kane in national newspapers.
“I think throughout the area there’s places where there might be corruption and certainly in local governments and state governments. I think it’s throughout the country and in different cities, definitely not something unique to Scranton.”
Julie Egbert from Kentucky came to Scranton to see the architecture and also has a sunnier outlook than we might have.
“I think us people make the city, more than the leaders, definitely on that one,” Egbert said.
Kane will be sentenced in a few months. She plans to resign from office Wednesday.
