WVIA debates start tonight with Barletta vs. Ostrowski

Big night tonight for Nick Troiano and Scott Brion.
Big night tomorrow night for Andy Ostrowski.
Big night Wednesday night for David Moylan.
They’re the guys who want to replace the men representing the region in Congress. (Where are all the local women congressional candidates?)
These four get their one shot to show they’re ready to represent their districts at the three-day series of WVIA-TV debates that start tonight at 7.
The debate tonight centers on the 11th Congressional District seat represented by Rep. Lou Barletta, the Republican candidate. Mr. Ostrowski, a Democrat, will join him on stage in the high-definition Sordoni Theater.
Don’t be surprised if somehow Mr. Ostrowski manages to work in his belief that Mr. Barletta has “demagogued” immigration reform, but this debate lacks the built-in suspense of Mr. Barletta’s tangles with Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski.
Tomorrow at 7, it’s the 10th Congressional District seat represented by Republican Rep. Tom Marino. Mr. Brion, a Democrat, and Mr. Troiano, a former Republican running as an independent, will get their one and only major chance to exchange words with the incumbent congressman.
Look for Mr. Brion and Mr. Troiano to try to scuff up the congressman’s cowboy boots.
On Wednesday at 7, it’s the 17th Congressional District, whose representative is Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat. He’ll face Republican Schuylkill County Coroner David Moylan, the Republican candidate.
Mr. Moylan, a radiation oncologist, liked former Democratic Rep. Tim Holden a whole lot more than Mr. Cartwright, who defeated Mr. Holden in the Democratic primary two years ago. If he has a chance, Mr. Moylan will rip Mr. Cartwright a little bit.
I’m actually on the question-asking panel for Cartwright-Moylan along with Tom Baldino from Wilkes University and Sue Henry of WILK.
Because Mr. Brion, Mr. Troiano, Mr. Ostrowski and Mr. Moylan haven’t aired many or, in some cases, any TV commercials, television viewers have seen little of the four challengers, and don’t know much about them.
This gives the debates a heightened importance to the challengers, though it will take a huge mistake by one of the incumbents to make what’s said matter to the outcome.
Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the challengers have mounted competitive enough campaigns to win, though I must admit admiration for the way Mr. Troiano has organized his. If he were to come back as a Republican in two years, he could make an interesting race.
– BORYS KRAWCZENIUK