Pa. gubernatorial candidates spar over school choice
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
With less than three weeks to go until the Pennsylvania primary, three of the Democratic candidates for governor traded barbs at a forum in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia last night.
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When candidates aren't reaching voters by the millions on TV, they find them by the dozens at community forums like the one in Mt. Airy. About 200 people listened to West Philadelphia State Senator Anthony Williams and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel spar over school choice.
Williams said people like Hoeffel from affluent suburbs who want to protect public schools from competition don't understand the urgency of conditions in minority communities.
“West Philadelphia High, which has a 60% drop out rate – it's not because children don't want to go to school,” said Williams. “It's because unfortunately they're too scared to [go to school]. A parent cannot wait for us to right size the system to save their child.”
Hoeffel said Williams has it wrong.
“I have a respectful but total disagreement with senator Williams about non-public school vouchers,” said Hoeffel. “Public school choice is fine, public school vouchers are fine. Non-public school vouchers would drain money from the public schools and would destroy the system that we know.”
For Pittsburgh candidate Dan Onorato, it was a chance to introduce himself to Philadelphia Democrats. He's the elected executive of Allegheny County, where he said he salvaged and reformed a bankrupt government.
And, he noted for this diverse audience, he focused on racial and ethnic inclusion.
“We also made sure that we diversified government – boards, commissions, authorities, contracts, employment,” said Onorato. “In my six years we brought diversity to levels they've never seen before in Allegheny County.”
The other Democratic hopeful, Auditor General Jack Wagner, didn't make the event.
The primary is May 18th.