“Thanks for voting,” said state Reps. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, representing the 84th District, and Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, representing the 83rd District.

“We had a big splurge early before work,” said Hamm, whose district is larger in size than the state of Rhode Island and covers communities in Lycoming and Sullivan counties.

“It’s good to see the strong numbers,” Hamm said, adding that at the end of the day the election is about “letting your voice be heard and doing it at the ballot box.”

As he canvassed the area, Hamm said the concerns for voters mirrored his. They include reestablishing Pennsylvania energy independence and tapping the abundant sources of fuel “beneath our feet” like natural gas, developing more transmission lines to get the gas to markets – that include users in Europe and areas of the Middle Atlantic and New England.

Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, right, shares a laugh with James Dinmore, left, at the polling place at the Hepburn Township Fire Department on Tuesday. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

He said he listened to concerns about green new energy, skyrocketing inflation, including higher prices for food at the grocery stores, deciding whether to take medicines or pay bills and higher costs for consumer goods throughout the Commonwealth and U.S.

“Pennsylvanians need to keep more of their hard-earned dollars and give less to the government,” Hamm said.

One way to do that is to look at the state income tax cuts that have been effective in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Texas, he said. Secondly, as he stated in a recent hearing in Old Lycoming Township, the state is experiencing at least $3 billion in fraudulent welfare system expenditures.

“We need to make sure those who qualify and need it get the help and financial assistance they can,” he said. However, he added, those who are welfare “cheats” must be held accountable. That much was affirmed by Josh Shapiro when he was attorney general, before he became governor, Hamm said, adding Shapiro admitted there was that much welfare fraud taking place.

Other goals that Hamm considered to be priorities included cleaning up streams of creeks, especially before the next flooding event as many creeks still have exposed gravel bars and debris in them from Aug. 9 and remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.

Another priority for Hamm is to ensure the volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services get more state fire and EMS grants. Currently, there are locations where a call can take 45 minutes or longer, when during a cardiac emergency or medical emergency or fire call seconds count.

“I want to make it easier and provide fire and EMS services with more resources,” he said. The $31.5 million in state fire and EMS grants should be increased. “I’d be fine with $60 million to $100 million,” he said, adding how it is increasingly challenging for fire companies to maintain their manpower and bring in revenue when all they have are gun raffles and barbecue chicken events.

“They’re tapped out,” he said, adding that providing them with more resources and funding so they can be properly staffed and respond quicker are critical areas in which he will continue to go to bat for these companies and EMS services.

In South Williamsport, Flick said he could not emphasize enough the importance of every vote counting in the elections. He highlighted how the Republicans currently held a razor-thin majority in the House at 102-101. Whoever controls the majority controls the agenda, he said.

As examples of the importance of getting out to vote, Flick noted how state Rep. Michael Cabell, serving parts of Luzerne County, lost a primary election by four votes and state Rep. Torren Ecker of Adams and Cumberland counties, won an election by a single vote.

He also noted how he believes in compromise and negotiation as ways to accomplish goals and move legislation forward toward becoming a law in Harrisburg.

He said he’s been able to make headway on that with the “Meet me in the Middle Caucus.”

It’s a caucus he co-chairs with others, consisting of Republicans and Democrats and designed to foster more cooperation between the parties, show examples of diversity, reduce polarization and find paths to work together to pass common sense legislation that benefits the people of Pennsylvania

Many districts, including the 83rd, are considered purple districts as their makeup is not heavily Republican or Democrat, he said.

Pennsylvanians want to see more bipartisanship, Flick said, adding how they want lawmakers to work together more on the issues that impact them every day, such as rising energy costs, inflation, mental health support, teenage suicide prevention and controlling the opiate crisis and finding more options for those seeking housing in Lycoming and Union counties.

Overall, showing their appreciation to the voters and sharing the importance of the election and democratic process and a peaceful transition of power along with improving quality of life for their l constituents were on the state representatives’ minds.