As district office closes, residents should use alternate options for state document assistance
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Clearfield County, has offered his final farewell to the residents of the 74th legislative district, an area he has served since first being elected in 1974.
“On this last day of the 2011-2012 legislative session, I want to first thank every resident of the 74th for the opportunity to serve these last four decades,” George said. “This has been my highest honor, and I will be forever grateful for the chance to represent my friends and neighbors in Harrisburg.
“I also want to thank my wife of 60 years, Edna, for her constant support and love,” George said. “I cannot imagine embarking on this journey without her by my side.”
George reflected on his time in office, which included elections in which he was the nominated candidate on both the Democratic and Republican tickets.
“I’ve always felt that we need a healthy mix of bipartisanship and a little bit of bickering,” George said. “When both sides get to state their concerns and offer solutions, the end product is always better for more people.
“When we recognize the importance of putting Pennsylvanians first, we come together and try to do what’s best for all,” Rep. George said. “To me, that philosophy is paramount.”
George reminded residents that, as his term ends, his office can no longer assist with driver license renewals, birth certificate requests, or other related constituent work.
“With my district office closed, all mail sent to it will be returned,” George said. “It will cost residents extra time and money to have to resend the items elsewhere.”
George said that constituents should seek assistance from their state senator for issues related to state documents and forms.
“I don’t want anyone seeking a license renewal or some important document to miss a deadline,” George said. “Please be sure to send the items to your state senator’s office or next month to the incoming representative so that the items will not be returned to the sender.”
George also said that in the waning days of his final term, even after the Legislature had concluded its session days, he was heartened to learn that an issue his office had been working on has been resolved.
“As you all know, earlier this year I had a bill signed into law that named a bridge in Irvona borough in honor of Mary Ellen Tiesi, an Irvona native who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City,” George said.
“I’ve been in contact with individuals over the last couple of years, trying to acquire an artifact from the Ground Zero site that could be incorporated into the “Mary Ellen Tiesi Memorial 9-11 Bridge,” George said. “After constant phone calls and letters, I’m thankful to report that we will be getting a piece of steel for the bridge.”
George said that while the bridge naming was a heartfelt tribute to Ms. Tiesi, receiving an artifact from the World Trade Center site helped to personalize it more.
“Ms. Tiesi’s remains were never recovered from Ground Zero,” George said. “While her family can never get her back, they will always have the memory of her and I hope this bridge and artifact are symbolic of that memory.”
George reflected on other initiatives he has pushed for throughout his tenure. George has passed legislation that helps protect water supplies, was instrumental in the passage of Act 101, the state’s recycling law, and has championed bills and amendments aimed at creating jobs and protecting people.
Despite an impressive list of bills passed under George’s name, he said that there is still work that must be done in the future.
“I hope that the issues I have cared most about – creating jobs, keeping our water clean, and supporting a robust public education system – will continue to resonate with the future Legislature,” George said.
“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to make sure we leave them a better world than we came into. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, and may God bless you all.”
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