Scranton's Mayor Chris Doherty formally opened his campaign for governor Tuesday, using his city's development turnaround as an argument for his candidacy.

In a hometown appearance and a subsequent conference call with reporters, Mr. Doherty, 51, cited his turnaround skills and a call for increased aid to local education as central elements of his bid for the Democratic nomination to succeed Gov. Ed Rendell, who is barred by the state Constitution from seeking a third term.

"I want to take the same passion and drive that I have for Scranton and bring it to Harrisburg," he said a week after winning his third term as mayor of the northeastern Pennsylvania city.

He joins a Democratic field that includes Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

Geographically, Mr. Doherty as the smallest political base of any of the Democratic candidates. He said he expects to collect enough campaign cash to compete with the other contenders.

His city was the first major state municipality to come under the state's Act 47 to ail its troubled finances. Mr. Doherty said that the measure for troubled municipalities should be revisited to ensure faster turnaround times for cites to emerge from the protection of the state law.

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