Former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson has her sights set on Washington, D.C.

Roxbury News was the first to confirm Saturday that Thompson is running for the 4th U.S. Congressional seat currently occupied by Republican Scott Perry.

Thompson was at the Harrisburg Hilton Saturday afternoon, listening to the debate among Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor at a table with attorney and advisor Ken Lee and Dauphin County Democratic Chairman Marilyn Levin.

But she was also quietly circulating petitions to run for office.

Former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson

PennLive and Roxbury News caught up with the former mayor as she was giving blank petitions to Moriah Adams and Conor Brooks, both of the Gettysburg College Democrats. Lee is a graduate of Gettysburg College and his daughter is currently a student there.

Thompson confirmed her candidacy, declining to talk issues until later in her campaign, but promising to debate.

Thompson said running for congress is something that has been in the works for her for some time.

She said she was first approached to run for the 4th Congressional seat during her second year in office as mayor, but her plate was full at the time, she was enjoying the work and she declined.

But the idea clearly stuck.

Thompson said now that she has left the city in a better position than when she became mayor, she's ready to step higher.

Significantly, Thompson's early campaign line - that she left the city a better place - was bolstered earlier in the week during Gov. Tom Corbett's press conference announcing the end of the state receivership for Harrisburg.

Current Mayor Eric Papenfuse said during the press conference, "I am very aware I inherited a city in a much better place than Mayor Thompson did four years ago."

Receiver Gen. William Lynch was more direct: he told Thompson "This city is in a better place because of you… You earned my trust and my respect."