Murphy
Kelly
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - All four candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general say they are committed to serving at least a four-year term before pursuing another office.
The two Democrats, one Republican and one independent vying to be the state's next top lawyer made the promise in an interview with The Patriot-News this week.
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and former Lackawanna County prosecutor Kathleen Kane, who will face each other in next month's Democratic primary, agreed the office should be free of politics.
Kane told the newspaper she would sit out another two years beyond a second term before pursuing another office.
Murphy, who said he would serve a full four-year term before making a move, said he supported the idea of a resign-to-run law, where current office holders cannot run for another office.
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, who is unopposed for the GOP nomination, agreed to serving a full four-year term, but would not commit to a full second term.
Don Bailey, a former state auditor general and an independent, told The Patriot-News he would commit to serving out any term.
All four are looking to replace current Attorney General Linda L. Kelly.
After former Attorney General Tom Corbett was sworn in as governor in January 2011, William H. Ryan became the acting attorney general.
Soon after, Corbett nominated Kelly to replace him.
Kelly, 61, was a prosecutor for more than 30 years, serving as both an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County and senior litigation counsel as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
She is Pennsylvania's first female attorney general since the office became an elected position in 1980.
Since then, Republicans have held the office.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.