SCRANTON, PA. – Mayor Paige G. Cognetti began her third term in office on Mon., January 5, 2026, with an inauguration ceremony held inside Scranton City Hall, 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.
“Six years ago, I stood here as an outsider, committed to taking on a political culture notorious for serving the powerful and the well-connected. We joined together and committed to charge forward and make this city a model for how to better serve people. We’ve made good on that promise,” Mayor Cognetti said. “Together, we turned Scranton around. Together, we turned the page on the politics of the past and built a city government that serves the people. This year, we will celebrate the history and promise of our great nation and of this tremendous city, and together we will keep moving Scranton forward into the light.”
Mayor Cognetti first took office in January 2020 following a special election. She served a full term following her re-election in November 2021 and begins her third term after re-election last fall following years of transformative policies and projects completed for the City of Scranton.
Cognetti’s administration has guided Scranton through many improvements since 2020, including:
- Shedding Scranton’s label as a financial distressed municipality in 2022;
- Improving the City’s credit rating through Standard & Poor’s by three levels in 2023 and 2024, to its current investment-grade rating of BBB+;
- Investing millions into training, operations, and equipment for the Scranton Police Department (SPD), Scranton Fire Department (SFD), and Department of Public Works (DPW);
- Supporting safer streets for drivers and pedestrians by investing $12 million in street paving, replacing faded and missing street signs, repainting crosswalks and school zones, and more;
- Strengthening neighborhoods by using the City’s nearly three dozen parks as anchor points, investing more than $26 million into park renovations including the restoration and rebuilding of new outdoor community pools;
- Planning for the transformation of downtown Scranton through a $15.3 million connectivity plan that will control the flow and speed of downtown traffic, convert some one-way streets to two-way roads, remove unnecessary traffic signals, and implement new safety features;
- Advocating for residents faced with constant utility rate increases by inviting the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to host public hearings in Scranton to allow residents’ voices to be heard;
- Modernizing refuse and recycling pickup through technology, eliminating outdated so-called “paper routes” used by the DPW, and restoring combined pickup for paper and cardboard to improve residents’ ability to recycle;
- Restoring City Hall for $4.7 million, combining federal and state funds to preserve the seat of Scranton’s government for generations to come;
- Protecting neighborhoods from the impact of severe weather and flooding by investing nearly $23 million into stormwater and infrastructure projects; and
- Overseeing the use of $68.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds as well as more than $155 million in grants and awards.
The mayor’s daughters, Sloane and Brooke Cognetti, and nephews, Drew and Quincy Cognetti, helped open the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 60 Honor Guard members Stephen Griffiths, Allen Lucas, and Carlos Perez posted the colors. The oath of office was administered by Lackawanna County Judge Terrence R. Nealon. The national anthem was performed by Ashley DeFlice. The Rev. Mark K. Alexander of Bethel AME Church offered the invocation. United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania President and CEO Lisa Durkin served as emcee.
The full text of Mayor Cognetti’s speech can be found here.
View the full 2026 Mayoral Inauguration here.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SCRANTON: Incorporated in 1866, the City of Scranton has a population of approximately 76,000 residents and is the sixth-largest municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Scranton City Hall is located at 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. Residents requiring services should visit www.scrantonpa.gov
ABOUT MAYOR COGNETTI: Mayor Paige G. Cognetti was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Scranton in January 2020. Her administration is focused on making local government work better by investing in public safety, driving economic growth, upgrading infrastructure, emphasizing transparency and efficiency, and improving overall quality of life for Scranton residents.
Last modified: January 6, 2026
