Zappala To Seek Democratic Nod For Attorney General

HARRISBURG, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. says he is seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general.

Zappala told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin, "I am running for Attorney General. I believe it's the most important job in the commonwealth. I know there are problems in the office right know. However, it's nothing we can't fix in a short time."

Zappala, the son of a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court chief justice, enjoys enhanced name recognition from his 17-year tenure as chief law enforcement officer of the state's second-largest county.

Duquesne University law professor and political insider Joe Mystic describes Zappala as the only Democrat with a fighting chance. "if the Democrats are to keep that seat Steve Zappala is the best bet."

It's unclear whether Zappala, who faces opposition in the April 26 primary from two lesser-known candidates, would also compete against embattled incumbent Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Kane, who in 2012 became the first Democrat and the first woman to be elected as Pennsylvania's attorney general, has said she plans to seek a second term. But she acknowledged in September she did not think she would be eligible if her law license remains suspended as she fights perjury, obstruction and other charges for allegedly leaking secret grand jury material to a reporter and then lying about it under oath.

The state Supreme Court suspended Kane's license indefinitely in October. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has called on Kane to resign, and the state Senate is considering taking steps to remove her from her elected office.

The other two Democratic hopefuls are Jack Stollsteimer, a Delaware County lawyer and former prosecutor, and Pittsburgh lawyer David Fawcett, a former Allegheny county councilman.

Two state legislators are competing for the Republican nomination: Sen. John Rafferty and Rep. Todd Stephens.

To qualify for the primary ballot, candidates for the Democratic and Republican nominations must collect at least 2,000 voters' signatures, including at least 100 from at least 10 counties, between Jan. 26 and Feb. 16.

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