State Rep. Rod Wilt, Sugar Grove Township, R-17th District, said he is running for a fourth term in Harrisburg with renewed purpose.

Two years ago, Wilt -- then unopposed in his bid for a third term -- said he was unsure whether he would pursue a career in politics beyond his third term. Both his grandfather and father were long-time state lawmakers.

Still not sold on the idea of becoming a career politician, Wilt said, "A lot has changed since two years ago."

"I was frustrated then because, among other things, it was taking longer than anticipated to get some bills through," said Wilt, who is unopposed for re-election this year.

"It is a tremendously arduous process if the bill is not driven by emotion or necessity," Wilt said, citing Sept. 11-related legislation and budget matters.

But Wilt said he has "put some years behind (him) and grown some molars" and committed himself to legislation that typically does not make front pages and sometimes moves through committees and chambers at a glacial clip.

"I've latched onto to some issues that I am not ready to abandon," Wilt said.

Wilt is a majority party member of state House committees on Labor Relations, Tourism and Recreational Development, and Game and Fisheries. He also is a House Republican Policy committeeman and secretary of the Liquor Control committee.

Under recent redistricting legislation, Wilt's district now includes 42 municipalities in Mercer, Crawford and Lawrence counties. The population center remains the Greenville area.

The borough, Wilt's hometown, is dealing with a fiscal crisis and its maligned recreation and revitalization project is up in the air. Wilt helped secure state funding and rallied support for the project.

Wilt has attended recent meetings of a committee that is working to correct problems with the estimated $1.8 million sports complex project in West Salem Township, now $200,000 over budget, 16 months behind schedule and on hold.

Wilt believes the community has the character to come out of its crisis. But he said, "You can't just focus on the conclusion. You have to focus on the baby steps. I am willing to do so some heavy lifting to bring sides together for discussion."

Wilt said he has contacts with Consumers Water Pennsylvania both at its Philadelphia headquarters and locally who could meet with borough officials to discuss the potential sale of the local water plant. Money from the sale could help lift the borough out of its fiscal hole, some officials say.