corbett | tom corbett become pennsylvania governer
Philadelphia (ap) — republican tom corbett, the state attorney frequent who shook up the pennsylvania capitol with his prosecution of corruption in the legislature, sailed past a lesser-known democratic contestant tuesday as he claimed the governorship of a state barack obama carried only two years ago.
The gubernatorial crusade, which was from time to time drowned out by the noisier contest for arlen specter’s u. S. Senate seat, concentered principally on spending and taxes as the state government faces a projected budget shortfall of as much as $5 billion for the fiscal year starting july 1.
But it in addition revolved around the question of whether the state will have to tax natural-gas drilling on the remunerative marcellus shale reserve; government reform; and the candidates’ track records.
Independent polls showed corbett as the front-runner throughout the post-principal crusade.
Corbett, 61, is a career prosecutor who has been the state attorney frequent since 2005. He has run for the most part on his office’s ongoing probe of corruption in the legislature, which has resulted in 10 convictions or guilty pleas and sent a previous legislative leader and a previous aide to prison. Thirteen other current or previous lawmakers and aides are awaiting trial.
Onorato, 49, has run the government in allegheny county, where pittsburgh is, as its elected executive since 2004. He touted his success in streamlining the bureaucracy and holding the line on property taxes throughout his tenure.
Gov. Ed rendell, a democrat and previous philadelphia mayor, is stepping down in january after serving the greatest or most complete or best possible two terms allowed by law. Onorato is in addition from the pittsburgh area.
Corbett pledged that he would not increase any state taxes or fees, while onorato promised not to raise the personal-income, sales or gasoline taxes. Both men vowed to cut alike lists of corporate taxes to help heighten the state’s business climate, and corbett has promised to phase out the state inheritance tax.
But during months of campaigning and three televised debates, neither nominee spelled out spending cuts that would come close to closing a $5 billion budget gap.
Source: timesherald