C-NET hosted candidates in the 2022 election for interviews conducted by StateCollege.com editor Geoff Rushton. We’ll be sharing the interviews with candidates for the 77th, 82nd and 171st state house districts.
THE RACE
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives 77th District covers parts of Centre County, including State College (partial), Philipsburg and Port Matilda boroughs and Ferguson, Halfmoon, Huston, Patton, Rush, Taylor and Worth townships.
THE INCUMBENT
Democrat H. Scott Conklin, of Rush Township, is seeking his ninth term representing the 77th district, having first won election to the office in 2006. He is currently Democratic chair of the House State Government Committee. Prior to his election to the state house, Conklin was a Centre County commissioner from 1998 to 2006.
Campaign website: scottconklinpa.com
THE CHALLENGER
Republican Steve Yetsko is a resident of Huston Township and previously ran against Conklin for the 77th District in 2020. He did not participate in a C-NET interview or the League of Women Voters of Centre County Voters Guide.
Campaign website: letsgowithyetsko.com
THE ISSUES
In his C-NET interview, Conklin discussed why he’s running for another term, his views on abortion rights, inflation and the economy, vote-by-mail, a ban on lobbyist gifts to legislators, K-12 and higher education funding, minimum wage, environmental protection and energy production, marijuana legalization, challenges facing the district and his top priorities.
Scott Conklin
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. For information on polling locations, returning mail ballots and sample ballots, visit centrecountyvotes.gov.
