Piccola, Hirsh tangle over reform

Sen. Jeff Piccola, left, moderator Scott Gilbert and Democrat Judy Hirsh, right before Monday night's debate: Politicker Photo

DERRY TOWNSHIP -- Monday night's debate between Democrat Judy Hirsh and State Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin County) featured attack ad show-and-tell.

While talking about a proposal to police campaign advertisements with a new ethics commission, Hirsh held up a recent Piccola mailer that made what she said were several "unconscionable" attacks.

"How can somebody touting reform send this?" Hirsh asked while holding up the mailer to the roughly 100-person crowd

But Piccola was not to be outdone. The senator, amid raucous applause from his supporters, held up a similar mailer sent by Hirsh, which he said was untrue.

"I submit I'm not running (a negative campaign) now," Piccola said.

His comment was greeted by sarcastic laughter from Hirsh supporters, who seemed as numerous as the Piccola backers.

"Stop with your negative campaigning, and maybe we'll get somewhere," Piccola said.

It was a tense moment in what has become an increasingly heated campaign between the two candidates in the 15th Senatorial District, seen as one of the state's most competitive.

Otherwise, however, the debate proceeded according to plan at the Derry Township municipal building near Hershey, with the two candidates arguing over who can best reform Harrisburg. Piccola, a 12-year Senate member, touted his record as chairman of the state government committee, where he helped pass an open record bill and called for a Constitutional Convention.

Hirsh focused on pocketbook issues, such as expanding health care and revitalizing the local economy, while tying Piccola's economic philosophy to the same one that led to the country's financial crisis.

She also argued a 32-year member of the General Assembly -- Piccola was state representative before becoming a senator -- is too embedded in Harrisburg to understand the reform voters want.

"Since you've been in Harrisburg for 32 years, how are you not a Harrisburg insider?" Hirsh asked Piccola.

The senator shot back that he opposed the legislative pay-raise of 2005 was consequently punished for it.

"If I were a Harrisburg insider," Piccola said, "I would be governor of Pennsylvania or president pro temp of the Senate."

The debate touched on a number of specific policy issues common in debates across the commonwealth -- the expiration of electric rate caps, answers to health care costs, and reining in government spending.

Hirsh espoused viewpoints similar to those held by Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who endorsed her last week. Her plan would phase in rate caps while expanding health care access to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

Piccola reiterated his commitment to many conservative principles, including lower taxes, restrained spending and opposition to gay marriage.

The race will hinge on whether Hirsh can raise enough money to compete against Piccola, who is already on air with his second TV advertisement. The Democrat will also bank on a surge in liberal voter turnout because of Barack Obama.