Lynn Swann sought to jump-start his challenge to Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday with a Grant Street news conference called to mock the incumbent's credentials as a government reformer.

The Republican teed off on a story in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in which Mr. Rendell said that after realizing he had made a mistake signing a legislative pay raise, he had come to embrace a variety of reforms including shrinking the Legislature and imposing campaign contribution limits and term limits on legislators.

"Ed Rendell has been governor for four years; he has not enacted one piece of legislation that [promotes] reform,'' Mr. Swann said.

Mr. Swann also said Mr. Rendell's reformer persona was belied by the fact that he had used the state plane to ferry a lobbyist around Pennsylvania.

The challenger's campaign later supplied information that they said showed that Richard Gmerek, a prominent lobbyist, had flown from Harrisburg to Allegheny County with John Estey, the governor's chief of staff, in September of last year.

The more than 60 state companies that Mr. Gmerek's firm represents, or has represented in the past, include gaming-related interests -- Philadelphia Park and Pocono Downs racetracks, Alliance Bally Gaming, 84 Lumber Co., Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Isle of Capri Casinos and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The information supplied by the Swann campaign indicates Mr. Gmerek was aboard the state plane with Mr. Estey on Sept. 28, 2005.

Leonardo Alcivar, Mr. Swann's press secretary, maintained that the flight raised questions about the independence of the Rendell administration.

"We don't know what it was about; we don't know what was discussed,'' he said.

The governor's campaign sought to dismiss the criticism.

"This is another reckless charge from Lynn Swann, the latest in a pattern of false and misleading charges he and his running mate have made,'' said Dan Fee, Mr. Rendell's campaign press secretary. "The fact is, as even Lynn Swann admits, Governor Rendell was not on the plane with any gaming lobbyist and the use of the plane is disclosed -- which is how Swann even knew who was on it.''

Mr. Fee said that, following normal practice, Mr. Gmerek reimbursed the state for the flight at a rate equivalent to a first-class ticket.