Kathleen Granahan Kane Announces Candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General

SCRANTON, Pa., March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democrat Kathleen Granahan Kane, a career prosecutor, today announced her candidacy to be Pennsylvania's next Attorney General.

Kathleen, a Scranton native, has never before sought elected office; instead spent most of her career as a prosecutor in the Lackawanna County District Attorney's office. Her career highlights include:

• Fought alongside the family of a young girl brutally stabbed to death in post-verdict proceedings to ensure that death penalty of Defendant was upheld on appeal.
• Instrumental in the arrest and apprehension of a murderer who killed a police officer in New Jersey. The case was previously unsolved for 40 years.
• Selected to help create and implement one of the county's first specialty courts to serve justice while providing a meaningful response to incarcerating the mentally ill.
• Served as lead prosecutor in the grand jury investigation of a convicted judge, uncovering abuses in the Orphans' Court system. The case involved depletion of estate assets of dozens of elderly victims.
• Prosecuted criminals who schemed seniors out of their life savings. Went out into the communities to educate seniors and agency leaders of the warning signs of abuse and how to get help.
• The first in her county to obtain conviction under the Sexual Assault statute, referred to as the "No Means No" law.
• Advocated on behalf of children in abuse cases including Child Pornography, Sexual Assault and Physical Abuse and was an integral part of region's multidisciplinary response to abuse/ neglect.
• Deputy in charge of Lackawanna County's first Insurance Fraud Task Force.  Led complex investigations and coordinated simultaneous raids on multiple sites culminating in seizures and convictions for million dollar fraud scheme.

Lackawanna County District Attorney Andrew Jarbola praised Kathleen as, "an outstanding prosecutor with a tremendous success rate. She was willing to take on difficult cases with a fearless pursuit of justice. Pennsylvanians would be well served to have her as Attorney General."

Kathleen remarked, "The health and safety of our families is our first priority. We need an Attorney General with vast law enforcement experience, from the crime scene to the courtroom. I have prosecuted thousands of criminals to protect seniors from financial and physical abuse, to guard children from cybercrimes, abuse and pornography, to ensure justice for victims of violent crimes like robbery, murder and assault and worked with schools to eliminate gangs and drugs."

Kathleen continued, "As a prosecutor, I was on the front line in fighting crime and understand what works and what needs to be fixed. In the coming months, I will detail my plans for public protection and safety, which includes tough prosecution, intervention and smart approaches to law enforcement. Pennsylvanians deserve an Attorney General who has real prosecutorial experience and a commitment to this job, not a politician."

While Kathleen has never before sought elected office, she has always dedicated herself to public service in her Northeastern Pennsylvania community as President of the Board of Trustees for Hands on Hope of Lackawanna County, as a Trustee for the Friendship House, and currently co-chair with her husband Chris of the American Heart Association Heart Ball of Lackawanna County. She is a member of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and past member of the statewide Child Abuse Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Advisory Board. In 2008, Kathleen was the regional volunteer coordinator for Hillary Clinton's presidential primary campaign in the northeast.

A graduate of the Scranton public schools, Kathleen worked her way through The University of Scranton, and Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. Her legal career began in civil litigation in Philadelphia. Later, she returned to her hometown to accept a position as an Assistant District Attorney. Kathleen now resides in Clarks Summit, PA with her husband and two sons, Christopher and Zach.

SOURCE Committee to Elect Kathleen Granahan Kane for Attorney General