John Hanger to launch 2014 campaign for governor

(Harrisburg) -- The next election for governor is two years away, but the first declared candidate is launching his campaign. 

Democrat John Hanger, a longtime state official and environmentalist, has scheduled news conferences in Philadelphia and Harrisburg today and in Pittsburgh tomorrow.

Several other Democrats are interested in the party's nomination to contest Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's planned re-election bid.

Businessmen Tom Wolf of York and Tom Knox of Philadelphia have signaled strong interest in running and other prospective candidates refuse to rule out campaigns.

The 55-year-old Hanger is a Harrisburg lawyer. He says his campaign will focus on education, jobs, energy and the environment.