Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst got center stage at a May 12 Williamson County forum when his counterpart and the challenger for his seat, Texas state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, cancelled his appearance.

Absent Patrick, the 100 people attending the Williamson County Republican Women's forum at the Williamson County Conference Center missed the peppery rhetoric and personal attacks of several previous meetings between the two candidates.

Patrick declined to attend because his wife became ill before the event.

The Republican side of lieutenant governor's race will be decided in the May 27 primary runoff. Early voting for the runoff will begin May 19 and end May 23.

Dewhurst took the opportunity to tout Texas' business-friendly climate and his own conservative pedigree during his hour-long talk. He also stressed his commitment to education.

"[Texas is] the quintessential pro-growth, pro-family model," Dewhurst said. "Every child is entitled to opportunity for a good public education."

Patrick has been favored to win the runoff race for Texas lieutenant governor since he finished 13 points ahead of Dewhurst in the initial statewide primary vote in March.

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic Texas state senator Leticia Van de Putte in the November general election.