Democrat Kane wins historic attorney general race

Story posted November 7, 2012 in Election 2012 by By Andrew Maloney and Kristin Fink.

By Andrew Maloney and Kristin Fink

 

History was made in Pennsylvania by the landslide election of Kathleen Kane for attorney general, a position never before filled by an elected Democrat or elected woman.

With 93 percent of the vote counted, shortly before midnight, Kane, a former assistant district attorney in Lackawanna County, was defeating David Freed, the Republican district attorney in Cumberland County, 57 percent to 41 percent.

             Ruth Luse, vice president of Centre County Democrats, said she hoped for a Kane victory. Luse said she was not happy with the investigation of the Jerry Sandusky case, which began when Gov. Tom Corbett was attorney general.

            “She is going to take charge of the issue that was not handled properly, in my opinion, by the former attorney general,” Luse said.

            Freed’s two major campaign issues revolved around child and elderly abuse. Freed planned to create a special victims unit to advocate on behalf of children and the elderly.

            In light of the Sandusky Scandal, Freed planned on eliminating the statute of limitations in criminal sexual abuse cases involving children. Freed further planned to expand funding of the Children’s Advocacy Center, an organization that has a child-centered approach to prosecution of offenders, as well as treatment for minors.

            Republican U.S. Rep Glenn Thompson, who also won Tuesday, said that Freed was better equipped for the job.

“I’ve looked at both candidates and Mrs. Kane has tried very few cases, despite what her commercials have said,” Thompson said. “I’m not sure if somehow the Sandusky issue, which David Freed was not a part of, would play a role or not.”

            Also running was the Libertarian candidate, Marakay Rogers, who ran for attorney general in 2004 and 2008.

The battle for the Auditor General of Pennsylvania featured three first-time candidates and resulted in Democrat Eugene DePasquale, a member of the state House of Representatives, winning office.

The Republican candidate was John Maher, also a Pennsylvania state House member.

 Libertarian party member Betsy Summers, a sales representative for Midwest Veterinary Supply, also vied for the office.

Democrat Robert McCord defended his position as state treasurer and won reelection. His opponent was Diana Irey Vaughn, a Republican  and Washington County commissioner.

Patricia Fryman ran as the Libertarian candidate for state treasurer.