It is hard to stand out when there are 203 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. However, we have two men who cover our area who are truly unique. I wrote last month about the amazing man, Joe Hamm, and this week, I want to highlight the recently reelected PA 83rd Legislative District Representative Jamie Flick.
Among my many idiosyncrasies is my fascination with name origins. I researched Flick’s family name and discovered it comes from the German word for quick and lively person. I have watched and listened to Representative Flick during his initial term of office, and I can say that he certainly has been an active and energetic man.
I recently interviewed him to learn his reflections on his initial term in office.
I first asked about the most challenging issues he has faced in these two years, and the first thing that came to his mind was opiate-related concerns. Given the horrible addictions that come from these drugs and the fourteen people who die in Pennsylvania EVERY DAY as a result of overdoses, it certainly does make it a concern.
Flick is also concerned with the suicides, vet issues, infrastructure projects, affordable housing, and mental health challenges that are also vexing to deal with throughout the Commonwealth and certainly in the 83rd district.
In my opinion, one word that could represent Flick’s philosophy of life and duty would be ‘fairness.’
For two years, he has pushed House Bill 1684, requiring a 50/50 arrangement for children’s rights for both parents (assuming that both parents are fit) during a separation or divorce. Four times, his bill was to be brought up, and each time, it was delayed. Flick hopes that it may get a chance to be brought up for a vote this year.
This idea of considering both sides moved Flick, just six months after he became a State Rep, to co-host a bipartisan ‘Meet Me in the Middle’ Caucus. According to Flick, it was designed to foster more cooperation between the parties, reduce polarization, and find ways to work together to pass common-sense legislation that benefits the people of Pennsylvania.
Flick is also a man of his word. He kept his campaign promises of not receiving a paycheck until the budget passed, not taking the 401k pension, meals, or per diem, and donating 10% of his pay to non-profits.
Besides the three boroughs and eight townships in two counties, Flick also represents the city of Williamsport in the PA State Assembly. Williamsport is the backbone of the region, and Flick must stay in touch with the needs and concerns of local officials, which the public often does not see. For example, he follows the meetings and activities of the Williamsport City Council and frequently keeps up with Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter. From this research, he is able to advocate for the city’s needs and concerns in Harrisburg.
As noted earlier, with 203 members of the Pennsylvania Assembly, it is very hard to stand out. Remarkably, however, our two local State Representatives have achieved notice. Last month, this column highlighted Joe Hamm’s recognition of being the most conservative official in the Pennsylvania government. Representative Jamie Flick is the only one who owns a baseball franchise in Australia, but more practically for the state government, are his unique skills in technology areas.
After graduating from Jersey Shore High School in 1979, Jamie Flick learned how to be a computer geek. He then graduated with a degree in software engineering from Williamsport Area Community College (Pennsylvania College of Technology today). From there, Flick started his own software company in Williamsport, which he also managed. He has since sold the business, but the skills are still there.
Flick decided to not just worry about election integrity — but do something about it.
He researched double voting in conjunction with the Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc. (ERIC, Inc.). This is when a person registers to vote in two (or more) different states. He took matched names from Pennsylvania and Ohio from voting data in the past twenty years and found there were at least 50 persons who did so and possibly hundreds more. His research raised some eyebrows and even caught the attention of the national media, such as the New York Post.
What makes this so serious is that PA Assembly members have lost their races with as few as one vote. It is worth remembering that in the 2000 Presidential Election, Al Gore lost Florida by just 537 votes. The 25 electoral college votes from Florida decided the presidency, with George W. Bush receiving 271 votes to Gore’s 266.
Flick is not just another state representative, nor is he just quick and lively, either. Jamie Flick is smart, ambitious, and committed to his constituents, his district, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
