There were five promises he made while running for the office of state representative six years ago, Dave Hickernell said this week.

"And I'm proud to be able to say, I've kept my promises," Hickernell said, as he voted against four of the five perks he had promised never to take — and the fifth has never come to a vote.

He plans to continue with that approach over the next two years, along with tackling things like the state's budget deficit and school property taxes, he said.

Meanwhile, first-time political candidate Dan Stephenson, who like Hickernell was locally born and reared, offers what he calls a fresh perspective and knowledge of the issues.

He also has a new law degree, and if elected, he says he would instantly go about addressing his most important issue — maintaining caps on electric rates.

In Tuesday's election, Republican Hickernell, 49, is seeking his fourth term in office representing the 98th District, which includes a wide area of northwestern Lancaster County.

Democract Stephenson, 26, who before college and law school graduated near the top of his class at Elizabethtown Area High School, is part of a current influx of younger people into politics.

Hickernell hopes to continue the legislative accomplishments of his first three terms in office, including having seven bills in which he served as prime sponsor being signed into law.

They included one just three weeks ago, which will benefit facade-improvement efforts in the three "Main Street" dowtown business/community betterment programs in his district, in Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Middletown.

And for the next two years, "Whether we like it or not, the biggest issues we are going to face are fiscal issues" as legislators, Hickernell said Tuesday.

He says steps must be taken to tackle the state budget deficit that's looming — it now stands at $300 million, just three months into the current 2008-09 fiscal year, and could be much higher by June.

Hickernell, a West Donegal Township resident and Marietta native, said the state's "rainy-day fund," set aside over a number of budget years, will help some.

But he said, "The last thing you want to do in this economy is go about raising taxes," and he also hears from constituents who are seeking relief from school property taxes.

Along with keeping his promise to vote against the perks — he voted against a pay raise, out-of-state trips, a leased car and per-diems, or mileage reimbursement — Hickernell said he has voted for every major reform that has come up.

He is proud of being an advocate for regular voters, he said, and added, "I was for legislative reform before it was popular."

Meanwhile, Stephenson called the about-to-expire rate caps on electricity prices easily the biggest issue he sees for voters.

"We've had pretty cheap electricity in Pennsylvania for a long time, but those rate caps are about to expire," and could increase by up to 50 percent and perhaps even more, Stephenson said.

"I think it's incredibly important that we keep the rate caps on ... especially the way the economy is right now."

He said he also will push for subsidies for companies that manufacture solar panels and windmills and for people who use them.

Born in Hershey, Stephenson was a non-traditional major in both English and computer science.

Now, as a practicing lawyer, he says, "It's something that will be really helpful when you write a law, knowing how it will be interpreted in the courts."

Overall, Stephenson added, "I think I have good ideas that I can bring to the table, and I will give my very best," in the 98th, which has a majority of Republican voters.

He doesn't run as much against Hickernell as the Harrisburg system: "We have the single most expensive state Legislature in the country right now, and I just think it's ridiculous."

With both young voters and his party faithful energized in 2008, he added, "I think it's a great year ... people are really willing to listen."

Hickernell also supports extending the rate caps, backing "a multi-pronged approach" to help families with the anticipated increases and also having a stronger competititve market for lower prices, helping lower-income residents and taking other steps.


Staff writer David O'Connor can be reached at doconnor@LNPnews.com or 481-6033.