Through a moderated discussion, the candidates addressed issues critical to the business community, including how they plan to promote economic recovery and job creation and how they will balance the state budget, which programs they will expand, which they will cut, and how they will pay for government.
An on-demand video of the forum will be available soon.
Below is biographical information for each candidate, as excerpted from a story by Laura Vecsey of the Harrisburg Patriot News on December 6, 2009.
DEMOCRATS
Dan Onorato - The Allegheny County executive, Onorato tops most polls among the Democrats. Onorato, 48, has almost $6 million in cash on hand. Rendell predicts he will be Pennsylvania's next governor, but he vows not to endorse any Democratic candidate. Onorato will run hard on his experience of being in charge when Pittsburgh and Allegheny County went from being nearly bankrupt to a revitalized region that hosted this year's G-20 meeting. After serving on the Pittsburgh City Council, he was elected to Allegheny County's top post in 2003. Onorato will tout his measures to save taxpayers millions. He reduced the county's payroll by hundreds of positions and cut property taxes twice. Allegheny County property taxes were held in line for the past seven years. Onorato caused a stir over his "drink tax." In 2007, Allegheny County raised a 10 percent tax on poured alcohol, angering bar owners. He still gets booed at local events. He is running on a platform to "reform government, clean up Harrisburg, create new 21st-century jobs, strengthen our education system and invest in new energy solutions." He and his wife, Shelly, have three children.
Jack Wagner - Wagner was first elected auditor general in 2004, and was re-elected in 2008 with a record 3.3 million votes. He is a statewide brand name in the Democratic Party. His biggest problem appears to be fundraising. There are questions about how Wagner can compete with Onorato's war chest and Knox's wealth. Wagner bristles at the contention that big money is the only credential necessary. And he does have a stable of editorial boards and unions across the state who know his name and track record. Wagner also has the reputation of a straight-shooter. He has issued audits blasting the Rendell administration for awarding contracts without competition, and has cited wasteful spending in the state's student aid agency. Wagner weighed in during the prolonged budget battle at the state Legislature, offering a series of recommendations for cost-savings. Wagner spent 10 years in the state Senate, representing Allegheny County. He was an advocate for early childhood education, expanded prescription drug coverage for seniors and property tax reform. Wagner is anti-abortion.
Joe Hoeffel - With a Democratic field headed up by at least two anti-abortion candidates in Onorato and Wagner, Montgomery County commissioner and former Congressman Joe Hoeffel saw room in this race for an unabashedly liberal Democrat. Hoeffel isn't just touting himself as the most progressive candidate in governor's race, he appears eager to be the standard-bearer on the most socially polarizing issues. He is pro-abortion-rights and in favor of gay marriage. He recently opposed a health care reform amendment that would ban taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions. "As the recent state budget negotiations demonstrate, we must stand up and fight every day to ensure strong state support for public education, real protection of our environment, and affordable, quality health care for all Pennsylvanians. We need to hold the progressive center in Pennsylvania," Hoeffel said. In addition to staking out turf as the liberal's choice in 2010, Hoeffel joins Knox as the only other Southeast Pennsylvania candidate. Hoeffel served three terms representing Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. Prior to that, Hoeffel served four terms in the state House. He worked on government reform, mass transit, economic development and programs for seniors. Hoeffel and his wife of 30 years, Francesca, have two grown children.
Anthony Williams - The Democratic primary for governor is again a four-way race, after state Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) formally jumped into the fray on February 22, 2010. Williams, who's been considering a run ever since Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox dropped out of the race last month, made his candidacy official during an address to the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg. Well-known in Philadelphia and hailing from what is essentially the First Family of black politics in the city, his presence in the race makes the wide open primary that much more so--but would also seem to make the road more difficult for Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who was hoping to benefit from being the only southeast candidate. His decision came about a week after Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty withdrew from the contest to run for state Senate. Despite the late start--the primary is less than three month away--Williams said he's raised about $1.7 million, a claim that, if proven true by campaign finance data later this year, would demonstrate a prolific fundraising pace. Not quite comfortable enough to risk his job, though. Williams confirmed that he's still gathering signatures to get on the primary ballot both for governor and for reelection to the state Senate. This information was obtained from other recent newspaper articles.
REPUBLICANS
Tom Corbett - First elected the state's top law enforcement officer in 2004, Corbett, 60, won re-election in 2008. His reputation as a Republican who could draw bipartisan support grew in an election year when Democrat Barack Obama won big. He enjoys widespread support from Republican Party officials. But for all the polls that give Corbett the edge, Pennsylvanians have never elected a state attorney general, auditor general or treasurer to the office of governor. As the state's top law enforcement officer, Corbett has headed up a Child Predator Unit to capture Internet predators, and an Elder Abuse Unit. But his most well-known work involves the legislative bonus scandal, his office's investigation of the state legislative operations. His office has charged 21 people with misusing taxpayer money and resources. He was appointed assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District by President Ronald Reagan. He was later appointed by the first President George Bush to be U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In 1995, he was selected by Gov. Tom Ridge to fill the vacancy in the attorney general's office. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard 28th Infantry Division, rising to rank of captain. He and his wife, Susan, have two grown children.
Sam Rohrer - A nine-term veteran of the state House of Representatives, Rohrer, 54, entered the race in mid-November, giving primary voters a conservative choice. The Berks County representative has advocated legislative reform since his election in 1992. He calls family values the centerpiece issue of his political service. He has upheld the need for free market reform of the health care system and fiscal discipline. He served on the Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform, which was charged with making government more transparent. Rohrer is the ranking Republican on the House Finance Committee and has served on the House Appropriations Committee. The architect and prime sponsor of the School Property Tax Elimination Act, Rohrer has a statewide reputation as a champion for the taxpayer. He calls his political ideology one of "individual responsibility coupled with the belief that the Constitution is the bedrock for making all critical legislative decisions and issues of public policy." He says he seeks to defend individual rights against unconstitutional government programs like the Real ID Act. He and his wife, Sherry, have six children.
