Sorry, I read the following and after I read that first name. The increase in blood pressure must have blinded me and I missed the last part of the sentence "than they did to Baldwin." I only read the part about jointly awarding more votes to a third. Then I thought, maybe it was a different person until I read about his affiliation with the LCCC.

Totally my mistake and my fault. I hope everyone who read my first post reads my correction.

In fact, the two committees jointly awarded more votes to a third, virtually unknown candidate — Steven C. Mentzer — than they did to Baldwin.

Vote Mike Sturla out of office!!!

Ooooooh . . . that would be a fun thread!!!

Maybe some of us see the performance of our state representative differently. You are pleased with Roy's local "public service" and "cultivating a presense" efforts. Reaching out to residents to better inform them about identitiy theft and the dangers of being overweight is very noble, but not exactly worth six figures of income. I see these local "feel-good" projects as Roy pandering to the local electorate ... keeping his name and photo in front of the voters by promoting non-controversial issues that everyone loves.

I am disappointed that collectively, our state legislature is not being held accountable to the promises made to residents when they campaign (which is constantly). This is not picking on Roy personally, I am only pointing out that Pennsylvania's state budget spending historically (and recently) grows at over twice the rate of inflation. All the promises for leaner, more efficient government, better education, more business friendly environment - all ring hollow.

We hear the never-ending list of excuses as to why the real improvements (beyond public service announcements) never seem to get accomplished ... including the famous excuse that our representatives don't get paid enough to send quality people to Harrisburg to get the job done properly! Most of our career representatives will not ever tell us the REAL reasons they can't get the important work done ... including the huge influence of labor money, gambling money and trial lawyer money (unless they quickly want to be term limited). In fact (unlike federal politicians) our representatives don't even have to fully disclose who gives them this money.

The system is broken, and voters are realizing that there is more work to be done than providing public service announcements and creating silly legislation like "buckle-up fido" in the backseat for doggie safety.

Reagan makes a good point here. What exactly justifies good performance from a State Rep? Surely, it not simply leading bike rides and other "feel-good" projects. In my opinion, these types of feel-good activities just open Reps up for what looks to be currently happening. Voters have an easier time making elections about one issue when they are not exactly sure what else there is to base the election on.