Job development and education reform were the key issues debated by Pennsylvania's gubernatorial candidates last night at Eisenhower Auditorium.

The candidates discussed issues brought forth by university and high school students across the commonwealth.

One concern of students was future job availability in the state.

"That's my main goal -- to keep people here [in Pennsylvania]," said Republican candidate Mike Fisher. To do this, the state must offer people educational funding in return for staying in Pennsylvania, he said.

"We need to have the guarantee that people will stay here in Pennsylvania and give back to the community," Fisher added.

Ken Krawchuk, the Libertarian candidate, said he believes that supporting businesses would enhance the state's economy, creating more jobs for college graduates.

"[We can] improve Pennsylvania by cutting taxes for businesses, large and small," Krawchuk said. This would bring new businesses to Pennsylvania and encourage businesses that are already here to stay, he added.

Democratic candidate Ed Rendell and Green Party candidate Mike Morrill both believe this can be accomplished by creating more jobs in small businesses.

Pennsylvania is the second oldest state in the nation, and efforts need to be made to keep college graduates in the state, Morrill said. A program including tuition breaks for students studying in fields important to Pennsylvania's future -- such as doctors, nurses, and teachers -- are also important to keep graduates in the state, he said.

After a cut in state funding caused state university tuition to increase dramatically, candidates agreed that funding for higher education is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Pennsylvania tuition rates are 68 percent higher than the national average, Rendell said. "Our state subsidies are too low; it's as plain and simple as that," he said.

Rendell added that as governor he would build up these subsidies to lower tuition gradually.

Fisher agreed that something needs to be done to lower the costs of public universities in the state. "I know how important funding is to Pennsylvania's higher education," he said.

The key to funding education is to make it free at all levels, Morrill said. In order to achieve this, corporate taxes should be raised, he added.

However, Krawchuk said that the key to funding education is to make schools a free market and to offer various types of school. Apprenticeships and cyber schools need to be thought of as educational options, he said.

Students in attendance had varying opinions about the effectiveness of the debate.

"I learned a lot about the candidates," Gina Rizzuto (freshman-secondary education) said. "I wasn't planning on voting; now I am."

It was helpful to have the candidates voicing their opinions all at once, she said. It made it possible to select a candidate to support, Rizzuto added.

However, Will Beckley (junior-management) found the debate less useful.

"I wish it wasn't just focused on education," Beckley said. The debate did succeed in reinforcing his choice candidate, he added.

Fisher believed that the debate was an overall success, though it appeared as though the candidates were all in agreement on many of the issues, he said.

"I think it was a good discussion on education, and I really appreciated the students' questions," Fisher said.