When January rolls around, unofficial results from Tuesday’s election indicate that Michele Brooks will return to Harrisburg to represent the 17th Legislative District, which covers southwestern Crawford County, western and central Mercer County and the northwest section of Lawrence County.

Seeking her second term in the state House of Representatives, the Jamestown Republican has apparently defeated Lawrence County Democrat Donald (Duke) Whiting. With nine of 10 precincts reporting in Crawford and 35 of 36 precincts reporting in Mercer, unofficial results give Brooks an unofficial lead of 12,362 to 6,935. Results from Lawrence County were not available as of the Tribune’s press deadline.

“I want to thank my family, my campaign committee, my staff and the voters for their overwhelming support,” Brooks said Tuesday night as the numbers continued to mount. “It’s a tremendous privilege to represent them in Harrisburg — and back here at home. I just thank them so much. It’s such a tremendous feeling.”

With Pennsylvania competing with states like Ohio and Georgia as well as countries around the world, Brooks, 44, says she will continue her fight on behalf of HB1599, a bill she introduced that she describes as “designed to strengthen our local economy and make Pennsylvania economically competitive, therefore encouraging job growth and retaining good-paying jobs.” With 99 co-sponsors, broad bi-partisan support and House approval already under its belt, “that’s going to be one of the first pieces of legislation I re-introduce, Brooks said Tuesday night.

She also plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit borrowing against the Property Tax Relief Fund Plan and will re-introduce legislation that would utilize Pennsylvania’s resources to lower energy costs. “It had been voted out of committee,” she said. “I’m confident we can get that passed.

Whiting, 33, a resident of New Wilmington, was seeking his first elective office.

“This was a great learning experience for me,” he said Tuesday night. “I think we ran a clean campaign, compared to all the negative campaigning that was out there. I didn’t say or do anything that I regret.”

As for his political future, “I’ve got the bug now,” he said with a chuckle. “I still want to make a change. This just wasn’t my time.”