A city man trained as a high school teacher resigned his job at City Hall on Wednesday, then announced his candidacy Thursday for city council.
Calling the upcoming election the most important in the city's history, Bill Gaughan, 26, of 99 Crane St., a Democrat, said he would work to bring council and the next mayor together to solve the city's financial problems.
"As simple as it may sound, I want to help," Mr. Gaughan said before formally announcing his bid at the Polish Club in North Scranton. "I just got engaged ... and we have a stake in the future, and I want to be part of the solution. As a member of the younger generation, I feel it's my obligation to do all that I can for the city."
This is Mr. Gaughan's first try for elected office. Mr. Gaughan, who lives with his parents, said he resigned Wednesday as an equal opportunity specialist for the city's Office of Economic and Community Development.
"I didn't think it would be right to work in City Hall" while running for office, he said.
Mr. Gaughan is the second candidate to formally announce a council candidacy. Doug Miller, also a Democrat, is the other. At least half a dozen others are considering running for three seats up for election. The primary is May 21.
"Number one, we need to work together," Mr. Gaughan said, echoing Mr. Miller. "Part of the problem is not enough communication (between the mayor and city council)."
The most specific solution Mr. Gaughan offered is creating a "think tank" of the leaders of city banks, financial institutions and colleges to work on solving the city's financial and other woes.
"The University of Scranton has one of the best business schools in the northeast. So why don't we use that talent; it's right in our own backyard," Mr. Gaughan said. "We need a business plan. Where are we now? Where are we going to be in five years? How much does government cost today? How much does government cost in five years?"
Mr. Gaughan said the city's recovery plan isn't "doable." The plan calls for almost 80 percent higher property taxes between 2013 and 2015. He said the Pennsylvania Economy League's approach to city finances hasn't worked.
"I think that we need to come up with a different plan," he said. "I think we've overtaxed our people. ... We need to stop being oppressive and we need to be progressive. I don't think people can do it anymore."
He was unable to specify where the money would come from to meet increases in pay for city police and firefighters through 2017. Mr. Gaughan said he would look to trim expenditures, but could provide no specifics.
"Everything's on the table," he said. "We need to be more efficient. ... We can't pull ideas from thin air."
He declined to rule out tax hikes.
"I'm not ruling anything out," he said before repeating his call for a gathering of leaders to work on the city's problems. "The other thing is, I don't have all the answers, but I'm going to work to get them."
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@ timesshamrock.com