Upstart state Rep. Eli Evankovich of Murrysville, who has been in Harrisburg only a year, said a lot of work remains to be done in the Legislature.
The Republican has announced he will seek a second term in the 54th District.
"We've accomplished a lot, but there still is a lot of work ahead," Evankovich said.
In 2010, Evankovich, 29, defeated veteran state Rep. John Pallone of New Kensington, who had held the seat for 10 years.
Evankovich said he has kept his campaign promise to attempt to bring fiscal discipline to state government and to reform Harrisburg.
"It wasn't easy, but I am pleased to have voted to pass a balanced budget on time that spends $1 billion less than the year before without raising taxes or borrowing from future generations," he said. "This was the first time in seven years the Legislature met its constitutionally mandated budget deadline."
Evankovich said he is proud that a week ago he helped move House Bill 153, which would reduce the size of the House of Representatives, out of the House State Government Committee. He serves on the committee.
"It's Speaker Sam Smith's bill, but I am proud to co-sponsor it. It would reduce the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 203 to 150 members," Evankovich said.
He admits the proposal faces a lengthy approval process. It must be approved in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and then be approved through a voter referendum.
"You've got to lead by example ... we keep asking regular folks to do more with less. I think this bill stands a real chance of getting on the ballot in 2014," Evankovich said.
He noted that Pennsylvania has the second-largest legislature -- and the second-most expensive one -- in the nation.
A former U.S. Steel financial analyst, Evankovich has authored another bill that will place newly elected legislators in a 401(k) pension plan "like the real world."
"I would have done it for all legislators, but it wasn't legal to do," he said.
Pallone, 51, who has returned to practicing law in Westmoreland County, said that he has not decided whether to run again for the seat.
"A lot depends on how the district is redrawn or what happens there. I definitely will not run against (incumbent Democrat) state Rep. Frank Dermody (of Oakmont)," Pallone said.
Pallone, also a Democrat, said Evankovich "has no record of his own to stand on."
"He hasn't really done anything for the Valley. He just follows along with everything his Republican leaders say to do, and votes 100 percent with Gov. Tom Corbett on all issues -- many of which aren't necessarily best for his own constituents," Pallone said.
Evankovich is a graduate of Franklin Regional High School and the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife, Heather, live on the family farm where he was raised.
The couple have two daughters, Mia and Elissa, and expect a third child, a son, this month.
