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Debate Reveals Viable Candidates
Posted 4-12-1999
On April 8, 1999 the League of Women Voters and NAACP staged the first of four County
Commissioner debates. It wasn't really a debate in the sense that there was any
interaction between the candidates. But it was a chance for people to see the candidates
begin to answer questions about their ideas for the office of County Commissioner.
It was in some ways revealing to me, and in
other ways confirmed what I thought about which candidates could articulate ideas and
which are in this just for the ride. Two Democrats didn't even bother to show up which
pretty much tells you how serious they are about this election. William Smith and Lloyd
Crago, without knowing that the audience would be small and the press coverage light,
didn't come.
The seven Democrats who did attend
performed pretty much as expected. Jim Gebicki, a good speaker with experience did well,
as did Ron Diehl who did his homework. Kevin Fong (who I still don't know why he's
running) wanted to promote his web site and experience as Recreation Director at the
Manor. Leo Depolo did what I expected. When he couldn't just pontificate, he was lost and
tried to make a joke of the questions.
As Tom Ceraso's slogan says. This is
"serious business." Tom is a really good guy but he is struggling in
understanding what being a candidate is like. People expect you to be able to articulate
ideas and to say you support longevity as long as the money is there, is not taking a
stand. Hell, I support doing everything for everybody, as long as the money is there. But
it is not there, and that is where making the tough choices comes in. It is serious
business and at times making tough choices can be lonely.
The final candidate who touts her years in
the Courthouse may have revealed she has been there too long. Her most important
priorities for Westmoreland County all centered on county employees. Improving morale,
hiring one of her friends as a Grants Coordinator, and some plan to entice people to
retire at age 62 that would supposedly save money. But she would then pay the retirees
health insurance until their Medicare begins, bring in entry level people to fill the
positions (no jobs were eliminated), and then pay the remaining employees more money.
Maybe I haven't been around long enough, but the numbers don't add up. With longevity
bonuses, why wouldn't they just stick around until age 65 when Medicare coverage would
start. To me, those three priorities revealed that candidate Brigode has a very myopic
view of what this job is about.
There are so many critical issues, but our
number one priority must be delivering quality services at a reasonable price. If we don't
keep that goal in mind, with an understanding that labor and management serve the same
boss, the public, then we are going to continue to need more of the public's money and do
little to build their trust. I'm not sure if people trust Washington or Harrisburg, but
county government, though it is big, could be an entity that restores people's faith that
the public sector does good and functions efficiently.
I must confess to having an advantage over
the other candidates by being in the job. If I don't have a deeper understanding of the
issues after three years on the job. Then shame on me.
We still have more debates each Thursday in
April. It will be interesting to see if the dynamic changes from week to week. Stay tuned
and let's see what happens. |
