Scranton City Council President Gerald Smurl will seek reelection as an independent candidate after withdrawing from Democratic primary contention in March over issues with his nomination petitions.
Smurl, an incumbent Democrat who’s served on council since December 2022, announced his independent run in a news release.
“Thanks to the overwhelming support and encouragement from my family and friends, I am happy to announce that I am running for reelection to Scranton City Council as an Independent candidate,” he said in the release. “I want voters to know that I am committed to leading the city’s future with independence, integrity and a shared intent to continue moving Scranton forward by supporting economic development, restoring parks and pools, and promoting cleaner, safer neighborhoods.”
He joins a field of council candidates that includes Virgil Argenta, Patrick Flynn, Sean McAndrew, Marc Pane and incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster.
Flynn, McAndrew and Schuster are all Democrats who won Democratic nominations in May’s primary election. Pane, the lone Republican council candidate in that race, secured a GOP nomination in the primary. Argenta, who finished last in the Democratic primary for council, received enough Republican write-in votes to win a GOP nomination and advance to November’s municipal election. McAndrew, a Scranton school director and nephew of Democratic Councilman Mark McAndrew, also won a GOP nomination with write-in votes and will appear on the November ballot as having both Democratic and Republican nominations.
Council appointed Smurl in December 2022 to temporarily fill former Democratic Councilman Kyle Donahue’s vacant seat after voters elected Donahue state representative. Smurl won reelection in 2023 to fill the remainder of Donahue’s unexpired term and has served as council president since the beginning of 2024.
Smurl filed earlier this year to run for reelection as a Democrat but withdrew from the primary field in mid-March, citing an issue with signatures on his nomination petitions.
“It came to my attention over the weekend that some of my campaign people got a bit overzealous … and actually got signatures that were not verified,” Smurl told The Times-Tribune on March 17. “All it means is they didn’t actually see the people sign a few of these.”
He described the signatures in question as valid, but said at the time he didn’t want the mistake to become an issue.
The release announcing Smurl’s independent candidacy says he felt an obligation to run despite the setback “in order to continue supporting Scranton’s senior citizens and working families, as well as small business owners and laborers throughout the city.”
“I heard from so many folks, urging me to run, that I felt I just couldn’t let them down,” he said. “And even though elections are never easy, I have a great team of supporters and volunteers that I’m incredibly grateful to have by my side. We’re looking forward to fighting the good fight for the people of Scranton.”
Smurl lives in South Scranton, is well-known for his annual “Christmas Lights House” display on Prospect Avenue and is the longtime proprietor of Smurl HVAC LLC. He’s also generally seen as a political ally of Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and, as council president, communicates regularly with the mayor and her administration.
Cognetti also seeks reelection this year. She comfortably defeated former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan in May’s Democratic primary and will face Republican accounting executive Patricia Beynon and possible independent candidates for mayor in November.
There are three council seats up for grabs in the November’s election. The winners will serve alongside Councilman Mark McAndrew and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild, both Democrats.
“I know that what I’m doing is working,” Smurl said Wednesday in a phone interview. “Just look at what we’re doing and how well the city is doing.”