O’Brien: Kanjorski is ‘protecting Wall Street’

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien sought Thursday to frame his primary against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) as a contest between Main Street and Wall Street, asserting that campaign finance reports to be published this month would prove who is “protecting Wall Street, and who is protecting Main Street.”

“He hasn’t supported working families in our region because he is too busy protecting Wall Street,” O’Brien told pa2010.com after

January 7, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Comments (6)

O’Brien rolls out a local jobs plan

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien called for sweeping investment in local infrastructure Thursday, laying out the first policy position of his primary challenge to Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11).

At events in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, and later in a policy statement and a phone interview, O’Brien said his “Project Main Street” plan would replace aging infrastructure, bury utility lines, widen sidewalks and renovate small business facades. He indicated that much of the costs, which he…

January 7, 2010 at 3:48 pm | Comments (0)

In deciding whether to run again, Barletta has campaign debt to retire

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta may very well run for Congress a third time next year. But first, he’s got a little $250,000-problem to take care of.

That’s about how much campaign debt Barletta has on the books, according to campaign finance data. And with his top political adviser saying a final decision on whether or not to run should be coming before Christmas, Barletta is turning his attention to retiring the debt from his previous…

November 25, 2009 at 9:00 am | Comments (4)

Kanjorski raised another $237K

With a primary challenge looming, Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) is well on his way to building up a formidable war chest for next year’s reelection bid.

Kanjorski raised more than $237,000 during the third quarter, finishing the period with about $808,000 in cash on hand, according to

October 14, 2009 at 9:04 pm | Comments (2)

Not so suddenly, Pa. becomes ground zero for competitive House races

First, Joe Sestak left his seat open to take on Arlen Specter. Then, Jim Gerlach said goodbye to his hard-to-defend seat to pOh, and there’s still those a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/08/for-dems-in-conservative-districts-2010-could-be-a-rough-ride/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F08%2Ffor-dems-in-conservative-districts-2010-could-be-a-rough-ride%2F','freshman+and+sophomore+Democrats+who+have+to+defend+conservative+districts')" target="_blank">freshman and sophomore Democrats who have to defend…

October 6, 2009 at 9:33 am | Comments (1)

Kanjorski ‘looks forward to a full and thorough debate’

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) on Saturday sent the first formal signal that he intends to run for reelection next year, when his spokesman said Kanjorski “looks forward to a full and thorough debate of his record and the issues in the primary election.”

The statement from campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell came shortly after Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien

October 3, 2009 at 12:09 pm | Comments (0)

O’Brien launching campaign with 30 sleepless hours

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien formally entered the race for the 11th Congressional District Saturday morning, and he did it by promising to start campaigning for 30 hours, non-stop.

O’Brien, who is running against Congressman Paul Kanjorski in next year’s Democratic primary, said his two-day, no-sleep bus tour would travel to neighborhoods, restaurants and more in Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties, which make up the district.

After announcing his candidacy on the steps…

October 3, 2009 at 12:04 pm | Comments (10)

O’Brien poised to declare PA-11 candidacy on Saturday (Updated)

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien seems ready to make his race for Congress official Saturday morning, when he will address supporters “from the steps of his childhood home” in Dunmore, his campaign said.

O’Brien, who was elected county commissioner in 2007, has been making noise about a primary challenge to Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) for months. In April, he assailed Kanjorski’s vote against President Obama’s stimulus package as “

September 30, 2009 at 10:15 am | Comments (13)

O’Brien files for run against Kanjorski

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien took another step toward a primary run against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) this week, when he filed FEC papers forming a campaign committee.

O’Brien, who has called Kanjorski’s initial vote against President Obama’s stimulus package

September 18, 2009 at 1:04 pm | Comments (4)

Kanjorski still bringing in PAC money

He may have had a close electoral scare last year, but Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) can still raise money with the best of them.

Kanjorski raised almost $230,000 during the second quarter, finishing the period with almost $615,000 in cash on hand, according to campaign finance data.

He has not said whether he’ll seek reelection after edging Republican Lou Barletta last year in a race many analysts had expected him to lose. Lackawanna County Commissioner…

July 15, 2009 at 10:36 am | Comments (1)