HERSHEY, Pa. -- During a sharply worded debate this afternoon between the two Republicans running for auditor general, state Rep. John Maher called for that office to keep a closer watch over the state's Marcellus Shale well data.

The Upper St. Clair lawmaker told the audience of several dozen at the State Republican Committee's winter meeting here that the auditor general should ensure that natural-gas well-permitting and oversight keeps pace with number of wells.

"Obviously the systems that have been in place in various offices associated with drilling, the drilling outpaced the substance of those systems," said Mr. Maher, referring to reports that hundreds of wells had not been counted properly. "The state is moving forward to reconcile that. I'm glad the administration is heading that direction, but I think the auditor general should take a look when they're done."

His opponent, Frank Pinto, a former college professor and president of the state's Association of Community Bankers, agreed that oversight of shale drilling is a valid role for the office.

The Republican State Committee members will meet tomorrow morning to vote on whether to endorse a candidate in the auditor general's race, as well as in the GOP contest for U.S. Senate. A forum featuring six of those federal candidates will be held this evening.