Former Harrisburg, Pa., Mayor Linda Thompson said she will run for Congress against Republican incumbent Scott Perry.
"I'm not going to get into the issues right now. It's all in the preliminary stages," Thompson said in a March 1 interview on the Roxbury News video website.
Thompson, the first female mayor and first African-American mayor in Pennsylvania's capital, served four-year term as Harrisburg mayor before losing her re-election bid to current Mayor Eric Papenfuse in the Democratic primary last May. Previously, she was a city councilwoman for eight years.
Shortly before Thompson left office two months ago, Harrisburg, then under state receivership, crafted a financial recovery plan aimed at erasing $600 million of debt. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania last week approved the city's exit from receivership.
Thompson "was passionate in her advocacy for the city," state-appointed receiver William Lynch said right before his term expired on March 1.
Perry, a three-term state representative, is in his first congressional term, having beaten Democrat Harry Perkinson in November 2012.
The 4th District, redrawn after the 2010 census, includes Dauphin, Adams, Cumberland and York counties. Dauphin envelops Harrisburg.
Thompson said she would debate Perry if he is willing.
"I have never denied anyone a debate since I was a councilwoman. I love discussing the issues and the solutions," she said.
