With the announced retirements of veteran lawmakers Rep. Merle Phillips, of Sunbury, and Rep. Russ Fairchild, of Lewisburg, a number of potential candidates have already expressed an interest in running for office.
Those who choose to run until the May 18 primary hope to convince voters that they are the best candidates to represent the two major political parties. From then, there will be almost six months for the nominated candidates to campaign before the November general election.
Voters in the 108th and 85th Legislative Districts have not had wide open races for state representative in 20 to 30 years. It ought to be fun.
If past is prelude, candidates will stand against big government spending, work to reduce taxes and ensure that the interests of rural Pennsylvania are not completely swamped by the political muscle of the Commonwealth's metropolitan centers -- Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Those time-tested, and yet to be successful, positions probably still represent the views and leanings of Central Pennsylvania voters.
Two factors suggest the political influence of the new representatives could be muted.
Unless the anti-incumbent anger that has reared its head in national politics carries over into state races, they will be members of the minority caucus since the Democrats control 103 of the 203 seats in the state House. The 108th Legislative District -- chiefly covering the western half of Northumberland County -- and the 85th Legislative District, representing Snyder and Union counties, are traditionally considered Republican strongholds. The fact that both lawmakers will be rookie representatives will further hamper their efforts to gain leverage in Harrisburg.
That does not mean that the new lawmakers have little hope of providing meaningful service. As a practical matter, providing responsive service to constituents is as important a job skill as crafting legislation or casting votes.
The new lawmakers could also become beacons of openness, advocating for greater public access to the workings and deliberations of a legislative body that is notorious for backroom dealings, and in recent months, rocked by indictments alleging corruption and abuses of power. What voters will not need are representatives who head to Harrisburg (prepared to collect the $76,000 a year salary) while aiming to do little more than offering meaningless "nay" votes on measures that pass in spite of them.
