Being on friendly terms with state lawmakers does not mean that Gov. Tom Wolf will avoid conflicts or stalemates, particularly with Republicans in charge of the General Assembly.

But building personal relationships with lawmakers can’t hurt. For that reason, it’s been encouraging to learn about Wolf making surprise visits to state lawmakers in the Legislature, knocking on doors and popping in unannounced for a chat.

Despite the near-constant partisanship of Harrisburg, some Republicans are admitting that Wolf’s charm offensive might take the harsh edge off future disputes, which are bound to arise.

It’s not that the Democrat governor’s impromptu visits will lead to Republicans abandoning their core principles or to dropping their legislative priorities, such as selling off the state store system and dealing with the $50 billion funding gap in the state’s two giant pension funds for government employees and public school teachers.

But having a foundation based on friendly, non-political conversations could make it easier for Wolf and Republican lawmakers to find common ground. At least Wolf is trying.

It might be his style to develop personal relationships with those he must deal with. Or it could be that he learned by watching his predecessor, Gov. Tom Corbett, fail to get many of his priorities through the state Legislature — and noticing that Corbett had very little contact with lawmakers.

Maybe Wolf, with a background in business, not politics, recognizes that he has homework to do when it comes to understanding the Legislature and lawmakers.

There appears to be no overlap in the political priorities of Wolf and Republicans. Wolf’s campaign stressed increased spending for public education and funding the increase with an extraction tax on the Marcellus Shale gas industry. He has begun traveling the state, laying the groundwork for his push for the increased tax on gas extraction.

Republicans, for their part, are renewing efforts to privatize liquor sales in the state, selling off the state store system and shifting alcohol sales to private business, the way it works in most other states. Republicans also see a need to deal with the $50 billion funding shortfall in the state’s biggest pension funds.

It might be a long shot, but it’s possible that Wolf could use the goodwill he’s building through his informal visits with lawmakers to propose some give-and-take, ideas that let him and Republicans get something done on their respective to-do lists. Wolf could offer to support the sale of the state store system if Republicans back his effort to add a gas extraction tax similar to what exists in other states with Marcellus Shale operations. Wolf could also agree to shift some of the new tax revenue to the underfunded pension funds as a way to gain GOP support. In return, Republicans and Wolf could agree to bold reforms that spread the pension crisis pain evenly, so taxpayers do not carry the entire burden.

Last week, Wolf was asked about a liquor privatization measure passing a House committee. His response was that the time is not right, though it’s unclear when he might think the time is right.

Wolf and Republicans can face off and dig in their heels. Or they can try to structure deals that give both sides most, but not all, of what they want.

By building personal relationships with his stops to visit lawmakers in the General Assembly, Wolf could be laying the foundation for getting something done in Harrisburg. And that would be a refreshing change.

Given the gridlock and partisanship in Harrisburg and Washington, voters have low expectations. But Wolf’s chances at being an effective governor cannot be hurt by his efforts at building personal relationships with state lawmakers.