With the mayoral election approaching, the City of Harrisburg is facing financial troubles. The Capital City carries a higher per capita debt load than any other city in Pennsylvania.
So, can a candidate's personal financial troubles affect their ability to guide Harrisburg out of its current state? That will be up to the voters to decide.
CBS 21 News has discovered that on February 24, 2009, Discover Bank sued Linda Thompson, the Democratic candidate for mayor, in Dauphin County Court, claiming she had "willfully failed and/or refused to pay the balance" on her credit card.
The balance was $1,483.71 and the payment was due January 21, 2009. According to Thompson's Discover statement, which is attached to the lawsuit, the credit limit on the card was $1,000.
The Dauphin County Sheriff's Office served the complaint on March 12 of this year, by personally handing it to Vincent Champion, an attorney with the Harrisburg law firm Rhoads & Sinon. Thompson's campaign chair, James Ellison, is also an attorney with Rhoads & Sinon, and the firm made a $10,000 campaign contribution to Thompson prior to the May primary.
Discover Bank dismissed the lawsuit on May 13, after payment of the balance was hand delivered just before noon. That evening, Thompson was set to take part in a mayoral candidate's debate.
Thompson recently admitted to other, personal financial troubles.
Last Wednesday night, during a candidate's forum, Thompson told the crowd the following that she was on a payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service to pay her personal income taxes.
"That's private documents but I'm telling you here tonight I'm on a payment plan," Thompson told the crowd gathered inside the Zembo Shrine in Uptown Harrisburg. "I've had my struggles but, at the same time, I am one of you. I identify with each and every one of you in this room."
Linda Thompson has also drawn criticism recently for her involvement with the non-profit organization she founded, LoveS.H.I.P., Inc. Thompson received a zero-interest loan from LoveS.H.I.P. earlier this year, which she said was for personal reasons not related to her campaign.
This week, Thompson said any questions relating to LoveS.H.I.P. were off limits until after the election.
Thompson did not respond to CBS 21 News' requests for comment on this story.
