Legal News

Corbett to Announce Gubernatorial Candidacy

By Brian Harris

By Peter Hall
Of the Legal Staff

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett is scheduled to announce his candidacy for governor at an event this evening in Pittsburgh.

Corbett, who was re-elected attorney general last year, made a vaguely worded statement early Monday regarding ?an important announcement regarding his potential campaign for governor,? but Corbett?s profile on the popular social networking site Facebook.com has had news of tonight?s announcement at the Heinz History Center since Friday.

Corbett?s campaign spokesman Brian Nutt confirmed Corbett will announce his candidacy for governor tonight and said Corbett intends to continue serving as attorney general during his campaign.

House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, in March suggested Corbett should consider resigning, pointing to Virginia?s former attorney general Bob McDonnell, who resigned earlier this year upon announcing his candidacy for governor there. Eachus cited challenges Corbett would face balancing his campaign with his duties as an elected official, according to published reports.

In Pennsylvania, two elected attorneys general have remained in office during gubernatorial campaigns. Ernie Preate, in 1994, and Mike Fisher, in 2002, remained in office during their unsuccessful runs for governor.

Corbett will follow suit through the primary election where he will face U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, a Republican who represents parts of Berks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties.

?He will continue serving in the office to which he was elected last year,? Nutt said.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on September 14, 2009 (boomark / email).