HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
While Harrisburg waits for answers to its debt crisis, it's also waiting on a new federal courthouse - and the politicians who might be able to help are all about to change.
State Representative Ron Buxton, state Senator Jeff Piccola, and Congressman Tim Holden will all be gone come January.
Democrat Patty Kim is running unopposed to replace Buxton in the state House and says she thinks it's a disadvantage that none of the city's political leaders will be in seniority.
"I want to go in the state Capitol representing Harrisburg and say that 'we're not all crazy, folks,'" Kim said. "We're not all 'we want,' 'give us,' 'we want handouts.' I'm protecting Harrisburg."
Kim says the state's hurting the city by favoring creditors over Harrisburg residents.
"I'm convinced that a lot of shady things are going on and it's making me want to step up stronger for Harrisburg," she said. "Something's not right. Somebody's protecting somebody so that Harrisburg is left with all the debt."
A new federal courthouse has been signed and sealed, but the site remains an empty field.
Dillsburg's Scott Perry is the Republican candidate for Congress who would represent Harrisburg in a newly drawn district. He says securing the 100-million federal dollars for the courthouse will be his top priority, but critics worry a rural York county boy can't relate to the city.
"I understand the issues because I've been listening to them my whole adult life," Perry said. "Harrisburg's been part of the conversation. I might not live in Harrisburg but that doesn't mean I don't understand."
Harrisburg voters might not understand what's going on Election Day. The names have all changed, which Kim says is not all bad.
"We can't have elected officials sitting back coasting to get a nice pension to the end," she said. "We need people with energy, people to stand up and fight because times have changed."
Perry says he's been debriefed by Holden on the courthouse project and if elected to Washington he promises to be a strong advocate for the federal courthouse money.
