Libertarian candidate Betsy Summers showed up for Pennsylvania's 14th Senatorial debate at WVIA TV, but Democrat John Yudichak and Republican Steve Urban didn't seem to notice.  With the Libertarian in the middle, the Republican and Democrat went after each other.

In the first of a series of four WVIA debates this week, the three candidates who hope to replace State Senator Ray Musto met in the Jenkins Township studios.  WVIA will host debates for the 22nd Senatorial district and the 10th and 11th Congressional district Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 7pm.

The debate was moderated by Billy Kelly, President and CEO of WVIA.  The three panelists who asked the questions were Andrew Staub of the Citizens' Voice, Bucknell student Alyssa Ward, and Paula Rochon Mackarey, President of  Happenings Magazine.

The first criticisms came from Yudichak against Urban, when Yudichak claimed that Urban was too busy running for other offices to be able to send a warning call about corruption in Luzerne County.  Urban responded by saying that Yudichak was too entrenched with in the local Democratic establishment to turn in his friends.

Summers joked about being stuck in the middle of the two candidates who continued to use their time and ask for rebuttal time to respond to attacks by the other.  Summer, however, did not stay out of it altogether.  She criticized Urban a number of times for abandoning the 2003 charter effort, after initially supporting it.  Summers was a member of the last Luzerne County Home Rule Commission.

All was cordial after the debate when all three candidates exchanged handshakes before they left the stage to greet well wishers and thank the panelists.

You can watch the entire debate on WVIA's website.

We caught up with each of the candidates after the debate and asked them for their 30 second pitch on why voters of the 14th Senatorial district should vote for them.

Betsy Summers (L)

"I think people would have an advantage with me, because I am not part of the problem, I will be part of the solution.  I am a taxpayer like them.  I live in the real world.  I have a real job, and I understand how people have to live and manage their budgets.  I will go down there to reduce the size and scope of government down their and eliminate waste, mismanagement and transparency to Harrisburg."

John Yudichak (D)

"I believe the voters in the 14th district in Luzerne, Carbon, and Monroe counties should vote for John Yudichak, because I have a positive vision, a positive plan for Northeast Pennsylvania, one that will create jobs, improve our schools, and create safer neighborhoods for our families.  There are simple things that the folks want, the folks that pay the bills, pay the taxes, I'm going to go and always stand with the families in Northeastern Pennsylvania and fight for the values and the things that they care about, like good jobs, good schools, and safe neighborhoods."

Steve Urban (R)

"First of all, people respect me as a county commissioner, and the word that I hear most often from people on the streets is 'you're the honest commissioner.  We need honest people like you in Harrisburg to clean up the corruption that is in Harrisburg.  We need honest people like you to do what you say you're going to do.  You're going to help lower our taxes.  You're going to help the funding of property taxes.  You're going to help people create jobs.  You're going to help lower the business taxes, so businesses can come to Pennsylvania. We want to make Pennsylvania job friendly."  This is the message that I hear from people, but the number one message I hear is 'you are the commissioner who is honest.  We respect you and that's why we're going to vote for you and send you to Harrisburg.'"

Pennsylvania's 14th Senatorial district covers 14 communities in Carbon County, including Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, and Weatherly Boroughs; two townships in Monroe County; and 35 communities in Luzerne County, including the cities of Hazleton, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton. 

• Get the best political coverage in NEPA at the Examiner. Please click on the "subscribe" icon above to receive email alerts on NEPA politics articles. Your email address will not be shared with third parties.
• Tell your friends, family, and co-workers. We are remaking the way you get your local political news. Follow and hear from your elected officials and favorite candidates without a filter.