HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett will not be in Butler on Friday.

That is because Corbett, who was the featured speak at the Butler County Republican Committee’s Lincoln Day Dinner, will be recuperating from a hernia surgery this morning in Pittsburgh.

Jeff Smith, chairman of the committee, said it can be disappointing when a speaker of Corbett’s stature cancels an appearance.

“But the governor’s health is way more important than our dinner,” Smith said this morning.

Now Corbett’s wife, Susan, will speak.

In a letter to the committee, Corbett joked that attendees are getting the “better end of the deal” by having his wife speak instead. Corbett told Smith that he will make it to Butler for an event later this year.

Smith said about 250 people will attend the dinner, which also will feature talks by GOP candidates for the state House of Representatives.

Corbett expects to return to work on Monday.