Daryl Metcalfe

CRANBERRY TWP — Daryl Metcalfe has represented the 12th District in Harrisburg for the last 15 years, and he’s confident he’ll get the chance to add another two-year term to that total.

Metcalfe will face Democratic challenger and political newcomer Lisa Zucco on Nov. 4 in the general election that will determine who will represent the 12th District in the state House of Representatives.

Metcalfe, whose seniority has earned him a position as the chairman of the House State Government Committee, has never had any problem winning elections.

Perhaps his biggest challenge came earlier this year when Gordon Marburger staged a write-in campaign and managed to receive 45 percent of the vote in May’s primary elections.

However, in the time since the primary, Metcalfe said his campaign has centered on knocking on doors.

The incumbent representative said he doesn’t waste campaign money on polling or television commercials. Rather, he spends countless hours walking different neighborhoods in the district, talking to anyone who will listen.

“I wouldn’t ever want to spend money on polls,” he said. “I get my information by knocking on doors and talking to people. Because of that, I’m expecting to have a very solid victory on election night as long as the voters come out to vote.”

Metcalfe said his political platform has never been a secret to constituents in the district.

He has fought and, if given the chance, will continue to fight for limited government, reduced taxes, family values and local control of education.

“I have a broad, deep base of support around the district because of the values I share with the majority of the constituency,” Metcalfe said. “I’ve been working on their behalf and I’ve been making progress, but much work is left to be done. That’s why I’m running for another term.”

In addition, Metcalfe said his record speaks for itself.

Two Metcalfe bills are expected to be signed into law before the election. The first deals with stiffer penalties for people who steal copper and other metals from businesses, while the other bars municipalities from passing their own gun control laws.

The 12th District has changed rapidly during his time in office, Metcalfe said, and it’s important to adapt to those changes.

The 12th District includes Adams, Clinton, Cranberry, Forward, Middlesex and Penn townships, and Callery, Mars, Seven Fields and Valencia.

Metcalfe said one of the biggest challenges of the district is transportation and, specifically, the Route 228-Freedom Road corridor in Cranberry Township.

However, Metcalfe reiterated that the only power he has is in the form of casting votes, and added that he never gets the chance to vote on legislation that prioritizes spending for infrastructure projects because those issues are handled by other governmental entities.

“The only authority I have in this office comes when I go to Harrisburg and cast a vote based on the various policies brought before us,” Metcalfe said. “Outside of that vote, I have no real authority. A state legislator does not get the chance to cast a vote related to the funding of transportation projects.”

At the end of the day, Metcalfe said his greatest honor in life is putting his hand on the Bible and swearing to defend both the state and federal constitutions.

He’s already done that more than a half-dozen times during a swearing-in ceremony that takes place several months after the election, and he hopes to add another ceremony to that list.

“It all boils down to going back to the swearing-in day,” he said. “I swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, and that’s what I do. It’s a great honor to be given that responsibility.”