Pennsylvania's debt-laden capital city will have a new mayor next year, but he could have a limited role in sorting out the pressing financial problems that dragged Harrisburg to the brink of bankruptcy after an unprecedented takeover by the state, the Associated Press reported yesterday. Following a tumultuous three years-plus in office, Mayor Linda Thompson lost Tuesday's Democratic Party primary election in the heavily Democratic city. She was defeated by Eric Papenfuse, who will face independent Nevin Mindlin in the November general election. The winner will take over in January. For now, a state-appointed receiver, William Lynch, is in control of the city’s finances and is working to resolve nearly $350 million in debt tied to Harrisburg's municipal trash incinerator and a persistent gap in its operating budget that he has estimated would be $7 million on anticipated spending of about $58 million for the year.
