Moderator Dave Davies prodded candidates to provide the specifics of their policy plans, but also to share a bit of their unique personalities as well.

Former DEP Secretaries Katie McGinty and John Hanger, former Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz took the stage this morning in Philadelphia in a debate cohosted by NewsWorks, WHYY and the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Many of the questions centered around businesses and the economy, which played well into the hand of businessman Tom Wolf, but McGinty’s personality seemed to capture the audience right from the start.

Davies asked what the governor’s role could be in encouraging the state to attract and retain innovative technology companies.

“We can celebrate history and invent the future. We lead the country in PhD and winning research grants, issuing patents,” McGinty answered. “But we fall short after those bright people graduate, off they go to Boston, Austin or San Jose. We need to turn that around.”

Schwartz’s extensive legislative experience prepared her for several impressive answers. When given the same question about innovative business she talked about her work with the Ridge administration to foster Biotech greenhouses around the state and her particular focus on life sciences to lead the way in innovation.

The congresswoman hit another homerun when asked about the Delaware Loophole that allows Pennsylvania corporations to avoid state taxes.

“ I have a number that will surprise and dismay Pennsylvanians, 70% of corporations do not pay corporate income tax in PA. Closing that loophole would bring in $500 million, it’s only fair and right that they pay that amount,” she said. “If they’re not growing our economy, we should get rid of those loopholes. I think there are tax incentives that make sense, but we should make sure that corporations should pay their fair share. We need a governor who advocates it.”

One hiccup in her performance was part of a segment in which Davies asked a tough question specific to each candidate. Schwartz was asked why some are calling her the candidate that Corbett would most like to face in November. She took it in a different direction, saying that the Governor feared her candidacy, rather than answering why some thought she would be an easy opponent for the incumbent.

Wolf succeeded with the economic questions and despite being a millionaire, gave responses that would befit any middle class candidate.

“We need to level the playing field so we have a tax system, and create rules of the game that create a level playing field for all participants in the market,” he said, in addition to discussing the specifics of the Delaware Loophole, advocating for the government to assist on the fringes of the free market and volunteering to share his business’s tax returns to prove that he does share profits with his employees.

Hanger stuck to his regular talking points about funding for education and the legalization of marijuana, but showed a more personal side when Davies asked what he liked to do for fun. Apparently, the former DEP Secretary is a huge Duke basketball fan and recommends the new film, Lone Survivor.

On the policy side, he came out strongly opposed to liquor and lottery privatization, “Corbett believes in all of these privatization myths,” he said.

Each of the five candidates said that they opposed liquor privatization and would favor modernization.

PoliticsPA was actually the baseline of the “hot seat” question for McGinty when Davies asked her about our story yesterday that pointed out the large amount of money she had received from the coal industry.

“No special interest tells Katie McGinty what to do,” she responded to the question which insinuated that the coal industry was purchasing her candidacy. She went on to explain initiatives she worked on as DEP Secretary that would reduce energy consumption.

Each of the candidates agreed that the minimum wage should be increased. Wolf, Hanger and Schwartz supported an increase to at least $10 per hour. McGinty advocated for an increase to $9 per hour and then an adjustment to increase the rate with inflation. Litz supported a yearly increase of $1 per hour until the rate reached $10 per hour.

Litz was also asked specifically whether her candidacy was even viable, after raising less than $6,000. After a tangent about social media and the Founding Fathers, she said that she was a viable candidate who could defeat Corbett.

State Treasurer Rob McCord was unable to attend the forum, due to a scheduling conflict with the Governor’s Budget Address.

Corbett’s campaign manager was quick to respond to the forum:

“Our Democratic opponents are no less predictable than the sun rising in the morning,” Mike Barley said. “They continue to lob the same old tired rhetoric and lies, criticizing the Governor for standing with taxpayers instead of implementing their ideas for a failed agenda that raises taxes, increases wasteful government spending, kills the energy industry, reduces accountability, scales back reforms that are saving tax dollars, kicks the can down the road on Pennsylvania’s pension problem, keeps the antiquated liquor system that discourages choice and convenience, implements the unsustainable and failing Obamacare plan and turns Pennsylvania down the road to fiscal ruin.”