So it begins.

The 2014 gubernatorial race will kick off this week, with former state DEP secretary John Hanger becoming the first of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's challengers to make their candidacy official.

Hanger, a Harrisburg attorney, has scheduled appearances in Philadelphia and the state capital on Wednesday and an event Thursday morning at Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts to talk about his 2014 bid.

He'll also be holding a Dec. 7 reception in New York City, during the annual Pennsylvania Society weekend.

Hanger led the DEP from late 2008 through the end of Gov. Ed Rendell's term in 2011, during a period when Marcellus Shale gas drilling began to take off. He oversaw an increase in drilling permit fees, as well as changes to well-casing standards and procedures for wastewater treatment.

But his prior role as outspoken president of the environmental advocacy group PennFuture meant a tough Senate confirmation, with his DEP nomination languishing until April 2009.

He also was a target in Josh Fox's anti-drilling documentary, "Gasland," in which the activist filmmaker challenges him to drink water from Dimock. He eventually is shown walking out of the interview. (You can read one of his blog posts on Gasland here.)

His background is heavily in the energy and environmental sectors, also serving five years on the state Public Utility Commission.

Who else is on the speculation list?

York businessman Tom Wolf, former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Delaware County, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, and state Treasurer Rob McCord all have been mentioned as possible candidates.

Two well-known Democrats -- Rendell and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey -- both told the AP recently that they are not interested.

As for Corbett, he's made several off-hand references to reporters about his re-election or hoped-for second term, but has not officially announced that intention or indicated who will be working on that campaign effort.

Luke Ravenstahl and likely mayoral rival Bill Peduto (and pal Rich Fitzgerald) will take their competition to New York City next month, in dueling parties during Pennsylvania Society weekend.

The annual dinner of statewide politicos, lobbyist and others is Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Waldorf Astoria. On Monday county exec Fitzgerald announced his party for Peduto (above) will be a about six blocks away from the hotel at 5 p.m. and Tuesday Matt Smith's Senate campaign the Carey Group consulting shop announced (below) it was holding its own, featuring Ravenstahl, at 5:30 p.m. further south at Fifth & 27th.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman says he's pleased that Gov. Tom Corbett plans to propose a transportation funding plan next year.

Last October, Corman announced he would introduce legislation to enact recommendations delivered that summer by a transportation advisory commission appointed by the governor. But that proposal remained in committee.

"I'm very happy that he plans on introducing and advocating for a transportation bill," Corman said in a phone interview today. "I think that's something that's really needed, and so I think with the governor's advocacy it's something that will get done. That's very positive news."

What's more, Corman said he doesn't think changes to funding for Pennsylvania roads, bridges and mass transit have to wait for the budget battles of the late spring and early summer.

"This is something we can do before the budget, and I think we should," he said. "The sooner we get to it, they can start planning."

He said changes likely would not take effect soon enough for this construction season but could for the following season.

While Rick Santorum said recently that his alma mater, Penn State University, rejected his effort to donate his personal papers to their archives, a Nittany Lions spokeswoman now has an alternative account.

The 2012 Republican presidential contender and the commonwealth's former U.S. senator told the National Review Online last week that he offered his papers to the school's collection, which includes those of JoePa and others.

"I don't know where they are now," Santorum told the publication."Off in a warehouse or something. They didn't want 'em."

In a post this afternoon, however, the State College blog Onward State quotes PSU spokeswoman Lisa Powers saying the university remembers the discussion differently.

“In early 2007, our library was asked about the possibility of archiving Senator Santorum’s official materials,” Powers said. “Discussions never got beyond this initial phase. We did not turn down his papers.”