HARRISBURG -- All four candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor said Friday night that they support the current state liquor store system and would keep it in place if elected governor, rather than turning it over to private enterprise.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, state Auditor General Jack Wagner, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and Scranton Mayor Christopher Doherty said that while some improvements could be made to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, such as by having a more extensive wine selection, the 77-year-old system, with its unionized employees, should be retained.

Speaking to several hundred people at the first Pennsylvania Progressive Summit, which was organized and funded by major labor unions, the candidates said the current state-run system pays employees better wages and does a better job of keeping liquor from underage youths than a privately run system would do.

Utah is the only other state besides Pennsylvania where the state controls the sale of liquor.

Mr. Wagner, who lives in Beechview, said that while retaining the current state-run system, he would like to see longer hours for liquor states, with more of them open on Sunday. Mr. Onorato, who lives on the North Side, said there could be more state stores inside larger groceries to make things more convenient for customers.

Mr. Doherty said that perhaps the "chairman's select program" of having more and better quality wines in state stores could be expanded.

Mr. Hoeffel said the state, which buys liquor in huge amounts, should use its bargaining power to get lower prices from liquor companies. But he praised the "helpful clerks" who belong to unions and work in the state stores.

Neither Republican candidate, Attorney General Tom Corbett or state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County, was present. In the past Republican officials have been more likely to try to convert the liquor stores to private hands, but the power of the clerks union, plus Mothers Against Drunk Driving, has stopped the move.

On other subjects, Mr. Hoeffel and Mr. Doherty said they could support same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania, while Mr. Onorato and Mr. Wagner said marriage was between a man and a woman. All candidates vowed to oppose discrimination in hiring against gays and lesbians. Mr. Onorato said he could support civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

They all agreed to support more funding for public education and for pre-kindergarten and other early childhood programs.

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