The future direction of McKean County government was debated
Thursday night during a candidates forum held at the Bradford Area
Public Library.
Among the topics: economic development, blight, the structure of
county government and high-salary positions, and the financial
stability of the county.
The forum was sponsored by The Bradford Era and WESB/WBRR radio.
Of the 11 candidates running for office in the May 15 primary
election, nine were in attendance – Republicans John Egbert, Dick
Danielson, Al Pingie, Larry Stratton, Joseph DeMott and Tim Yohe,
along with Democrats Geoffrey Beck, Clifford Lane and Paul Lathrop.
Democrat Judy Church was ill and not able to attend, and Republican
Jeremy Kosmac was absent.
Each candidate said they would work full-time in the post.
The following is a brief synopsis of the candidate viewpoints on
various issues. They are placed in alphabetical order.
Beck
Beck said the county’s economic development agency has not paid
dividends. He said people are leaving the county to find better
opportunities elsewhere. He also didn’t agree with having
additional high-salary positions, saying “we need to get rid of
them immediately. By having them, the voice has been taken away
from the people.” Beck said the way to take care of blight is to
lift the county’s residents up, help them get good-paying jobs and
give them something to work for. He is also an advocate of cutting
county spending and called for a reduction in taxes.
Danielson
Danielson said he believes an economic development department is
needed, noting “it’s a matter of staying together and believing in
what we are doing.” He also touted tourism as a way to help
financially. He also believes the county administrator should
remain in place. Danielson also said fighting blight is an
expensive proposition, but one that is being dealt with in every
municipality. Danielson is also in favor of additional economic
development and bringing good-paying jobs to the region.
DeMott
DeMott believes economic development needs a team approach,
adding the county can help its industries by acting much like a
lobbying group. In regards to the structure of county government,
“we need to sit down with the row officers and department heads”
and design an organizational chart of what is best for the
taxpayers. With blight, DeMott said the business districts across
the area aren’t as prosperous as years ago, noting there is an
expense to bringing old structures up to standards. DeMott also
said by raising property values, you can help lower the tax rate.
He would also promote the county as a place to retire.
Egbert
Believes the county is headed in the right direction with the
establishment of an economic development agency at the county
level, and needs to retain the county administrator position.
Egbert also touted the stability of the county’s finances, noting
“you make money in a business by sweeping little things out of the
corner.” In regards to blight, Egbert said it’s more a municipal
problem, but the county can help with grant applications. He cited
the success of the Onofrio Street project in Bradford. “We will
continue in this direction to build a financially sound
county.”
Lane
Lane said economic development efforts can be seen at Bradford
Regional Airport, where a proposed Pennsylvania National Guard
armory is slated, along with the growth of the oil and gas industry
and its related jobs. Lane also believes the creation of additional
positions has led to more efficiency in government, noting it would
be detrimental to drop the county administrator position. With
blight, Lane said further economic development will help in
fighting the problem, noting “it’s one of the toughest issue the
county faces.” He also believes the county is financially healthy,
noting the commissioners have been good stewards of taxpayer
money.
Lathrop
Lathrop also believes an economic development agency is needed,
saying “it’s a step in the right direction.” He also said the
county needs to stem the tide of young people leaving to find jobs
elsewhere. Lathrop also doesn’t believe the additional positions in
county government has proven worthwhile, and those positions need
re-evaluated. In regards to blight, Lathrop said a cleaner county
will help with tourism efforts. He said bringing in more industry
will also help to expand the tax base.
Pingie
In regards to economic development, Pingie said the creation of
a department was a step in the right direction, but more people
need to be involved. Pingie also said the county needs to rely on
its natural resources as a way to grow the economy, citing the oil
and gas industry and logging as two examples. With blight, Pingie
said by providing affordable jobs, that will enable residents to
care for their property. He also said he was against the
establishment of a county administrator, calling the creation of
high-salary positions a “back door attempt at Home Rule.” “I see no
need to double the checks and balances system.”
Stratton
Stratton said the economy can be strengthened by concentrating
on the county’s resources, including the petroleum industry and in
tourism. “We need to become a destination county.” Stratton also
said he would evaluate the positions which have been created, and
that the economic development department has paid some dividends.
He also doesn’t believe the county administrator position has
proved worthwhile. With blight, Stratton said “we have to correct
the attitude of ‘I don’t care.'” He also said the county needs to
support small businesses.
Yohe
Yohe believes increased tourism will help spur economic
development across the county, and with the growth of the PA Wilds
region, the area could be marketed more to draw businesses here. He
also believes local municipalities need to work more with the
county in this regard. He also said the added positions in the
government are not worthwhile, noting the “commissioners were
elected by the people to do the job.” With blight, Yohe said the
problem doesn’t occur if the economy were better. Yohe also
believes the county needs a “multi-prong effort” to bring
businesses to the county.
