BORYS KRAWCZENIUK
First Published: October 4, 2009 by the Times-Tribune

DUNMORE - With a promise to level the playing field for Middle America, Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien on Saturday kicked off his bid to unseat longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski.

Joined by his wife, Michelle, their two children and about 100 supporters, the 36-year-old Democratic commissioner stood in front of his boyhood home at 1906 Delaware St. and criticized the "unchecked greed of corporate America that threatens Middle America."

Mr. O'Brien, who lives in Moosic's Glenmaura neighborhood, promised to work for "affordable, quality health care," well-funded early childhood education and an education system that prepares students to compete globally.

"And energy independence should not just be a goal, but a national security priority," he said.

Any new government spending should not add to the federal deficit and should be balanced by savings elsewhere, he said.

"This is not free money," he said.

That was an allusion to a comment made by Mr. Kanjorski last year to a CBS News reporter about $5.6 million in federal money he obtained for a Nanticoke parking garage.

The remark was one of several veiled swipes by Mr. O'Brien at the congressman - whom he did not name - who last year, against Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, successfully fended off criticisms that he allocated more than $9 million in federal money for his nephews' now-defunct technology company.

"The old-style politics of greed and personal profit have no place in our government, and we must fight to replace them with new-style leadership," Mr. O'Brien said. "In our region, we deserve to receive our fair share of federal tax dollars. And we deserve a congressman who will put that money in your pockets, not his own pockets."

Mr. Kanjorski has never been charged with any wrongdoing, and his campaign spokesman, Ed Mitchell, accused Mr. O'Brien of making a "wild statement" that was "almost libelous."

"There's no proof that Paul has ever put any money in his pocket," Mr. Mitchell said. "He has not made a personal profit from his job ... Paul Kanjorski has never been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with his position as a congressman in his district."

He said Mr. Kanjorski "looks forward to a full and thorough debate of his record and the issues in the primary election."

"He believes that in today's tough economic times we need a congressman who has a record of fighting for veterans' benefits, protecting Social Security and Medicare for seniors and pushing for job creation and affordable health care for all working families," he said.

Mr. O'Brien pooh-poohed Mr. Mitchell's libel claim.

"We'll let the people of our region make that determination on May 18," he said. That date is the primary election.

After kicking off his campaign, Mr. O'Brien hopped on a recreational vehicle for a 30-hour tour of the district with stops in all five counties.

Lackawanna County Commissioner O’Brien opens campaign to take seat away from longtime incumbent.

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
, Staff Writer
First Published: October 4, 2009 by the Times Leader

WILKES-BARRE – Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey D. O’Brien announced Saturday he’s challenging incumbent Paul Kanjorski for the 11th District congressional seat.

Less than an hour after his announcement at his childhood home in Dunmore, he embarked on a 30-hour bus tour to knock on doors, meet with diner patrons and appear at the Bloomsburg Fair.

O’Brien, a 36-year-old Democrat, said he’s a listener and, if elected, will continue to pay attention to the issues affecting people in Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties.

He said Kanjorski, a 13-term incumbent from Nanticoke, is out of touch with issues actually affecting most people.

“Let them understand I am in it with them. I am somebody who lives in the community, somebody who loves the community and somebody who will work very hard every single day to get it done for the people of this region,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said he would like to debate the incumbent in every county in the district.

If elected, he said, he will return to the district weekly and hold town hall meetings to get feedback from his constituents.

“I will be somebody who will be holding town hall meetings all the time and continuing to go door to door listening to people, taking their voices to Washington, instead of taking the Washington voice to the district,” he said.

He wants to work to create high-paying, family-sustaining jobs, focus on energy conservation and energy independence, support our troops/veterans, restore fiscal discipline and ensure access to high-quality affordable health care.

He learned at an early age that he wanted to serve in public office because a volunteer can only take projects so far. When he was an 18-year-old high school senior, he said he received a $600,000 federal appropriation to build a community center in Dunmore.

A graduate of Penn State University, he received his law degree, from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

As a county commissioner, he voted to enact the first countywide ban prohibiting any county employee from receiving any type of gift from a vendor – even a cup of coffee.

“I believe we need to stand by a heightened standard. Not what is legal, but what is right. I think it is important that our elected officials that we restore confidence and trust in our elected officials ...You don’t do that through words. You do it through actions. I have delivered on actions in Lackawanna County and I will deliver for people in the 11th District,” O’Brien said during an interview on his RV in Wilkes-Barre Saturday.

O’Brien also pointed out he’s been fiscally responsible as a county commissioner because he was successful in balancing the Lackawanna County budget without raising taxes.

O’Brien resides in Moosic with his wife, Michelle, and their children, 6-year old Kate and 4-year old Casey.

Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, won his U.S. House of Representatives’ seat in 1984 and has won retention in every election since. Kanjorski has not officially announced his candidacy.