Metcalfe delivers retirement address
In a retirement address before the state House of Representatives in Harrisburg on Tuesday, state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, reiterated pillars of his political and religious perspective while thanking family, friends, supporters and staff.
Metcalfe announced his retirement in January after more than two decades in office. He has served the 12th District in southwestern Butler County since 1999.
The newly rearranged district, which now includes Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships; and Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople boroughs, is up for grabs, and Republican Stephenie Scialabba and Democrat Robert Vigue will vie for the spot in the Nov. 8 election.
In front of the assembled House, quoting from the Bible, Metcalfe described the current political environment as a place where “we are witnessing evil being called good and good being called evil.”
“We who are elected in government should be cognizant that our authority as provided for in our constitutions is still subordinate to the authority of God, who is the supreme governor of the universe,” he said. “This chamber is an arena where we witness the conflict of truth versus error, evil versus good, darkness versus light.”
Metcalfe thanked his campaign staff and supporters across the state, and said that citizens did not have to “obey government dictates that violate our constitutions, or that are contrary to God’s commands.” He encouraged Pennsylvania citizens to be active participants in government.
“Thank you to the voters who trusted and honored me by electing me to serve them in the political arena,” he said. “As I retire from my service in this legislative body on Nov. 30, I want to assure my fellow patriots that I am not retiring from the fight for liberty.”
Metcalfe said he was “blessed” to represent his constituents, and specifically thanked his wife, children, and grandchildren, whom he hoped to spend more time with in retirement.
When he first considered running for the state House seat, he said, he and his wife “prayed about it.”
“After praying about my potential candidacy, I made the decision to run with my wife’s full support, having never been more affirmed through prayer than I had in anything else I’d done in my life,” he said, adding that he felt called by God to serve in the House of Representatives. “I’m grateful for (God’s) protection, and for his provision during my time in this office.”
