By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

HARRISBURG — Joe Hoeffel wants to know why Republican Tom Corbett and Democratic rival Anthony Williams didn’t attend Wednesday’s gubernatorial forum.

“I wish all the candidates were coming to these forums,” the southeast candidate said during the debate’s opening remarks. The forums, Hoeffel said, are a good way for candidates tell voters where they stand on the issues.

The Montgomery County commissioner added later, “I think all of us running for governor ought to show up.”

Hoeffel was joined on stage by fellow Democrats Dan Onorato and Jack Wagner and Republican Sam Rohrer. Tony Ross, president of the United Way of Pennsylvania, said Corbett had a prior commitment in Pittsburgh and Williams, the newly minted candidate who officially declared only Monday, also had to be somewhere else.

In an interview afterward, Hoeffel said Wednesday’s missed appearance isn’t the first for either.

“Where’s Tom Corbett?” He asked. “He’s the Republican front-runner. He’s come to only one of about six forums to which we’ve all been invited, both parties. If you want to be governor, you got show up and answer the questions.”

Asked about Williams, Hoeffel responded: “He ought to show up, too. He’s missed two candidates debates, one in Philadelphia. Candidates need to show up.”

Williams faced questions Monday during the Pennsylvania Press Club Luncheon about why he had missed the forum in Philadelphia earlier in the month and didn’t attend several county committee meetings over the weekend.

The senator responded that, as a new candidate, he simply didn’t know about the events or had prior commitments.