MOUNT VERNON — At a forum Thursday at Mazza’s Restaurant, candidates for county commissioners answered randomly selected questions. Republican incumbents Tom McLarnan and Allen Stockberger will both face a Democratic challenger in November; McLarnan will also have to campaign against challengers in the primary election.
Republican candidates Teresa Bemiller and Tim Smith are seeking the nomination to McLarnan’s seat. On the Democratic side, Paul Harris and John Booth are running for the nomination.
McLarnan said Knox County is not facing the serious budget problems the state is facing. He said he is a fiscally responsible commissioner and is the only candidate with the managerial experience, education and drive to meet the challenges — such as growth and development issues — facing Knox County. McLarnan said he has worked hard to help strengthen the community and striven to offer tax incentives to companies to help bring in new jobs to the area, while simultaneously working to preserve green space in the county.
Bemiller said she has served for seven years as the executive director of Knox County Metropolitan Housing Authority and 12 years as the Knox County clerk of courts. She is president of the Knox County MRDD board. She said she has experience bringing in managing large budgets and obtaining state and federal grants, which saves local dollars. Bemiller also said she thinks her experience and skills will help her be an effective commissioner.
Smith, who received a B.S. in dairy science from The Ohio State University, has served in the Army National Guard and now works as a local real estate broker. He said he feels the current board of commissioners is stale and needs revamped and, if elected, he will strive to raise the level of professionalism on the board.
Booth, president of the Mount Vernon City Council, said he is seeking the office because he loves the county. He said he has a strong work ethic that he brings to the table and employs a “calm style of leadership” on City Council.
“I see no difference in opinion on the current [commissioners] board,” Booth said. “It seems to me that there is only one voice speaking.”
Harris characterized himself and his family as examples of the average Knox County family.
“I believe the time has come for the average Knox County family to have representation in county government,” he said. “I want to be that grassroots representative.”
He said he doesn’t claim to have all the answers to issues facing the county, but does have the drive and dedication to discover those answers.
Serita Harris and Earl Justice are the two democratic candidates running for the commissioner’s seat held by Stockberger, who was unable to attend the forum.
Justice, a World War II veteran, said he has served on the board of the local hospital and has been a Clinton Township Trustee.
Serita Harris, a former longtime employee of the Mount Vernon News, said she likes the idea of having the opportunity to make Knox County a better place to live and wants to work to bring new jobs and industry to the area. She also said she wants to fight against the loss of young adults who leave the area to find better jobs, and to improve local services for senior citizens.
Asked what he would do if faced with the loss of a large manufacturer in the county, Smith said he would do whatever he could and would offer tax incentives, if the company doesn’t already have them. He would also promise to improve the transportation infrastructure to better accomodate manufacturer’s needs.
Responding to the same question, Paul Harris said he would consult with the Knox County Area Development Foundation to see what can be done to persuade the company to stay.
Justice said he would do anything to keep the industry here.
Asked about the efficacy of tax incentives for manufacturing, McLarnan said they help. He also said he would like to see more development in the area, and favors tax abatements without damages to the schools.
Booth, when asked the same question, said he served on the city’s finance committee for 10 years and has worked closely on many tax abatemetents and will continue to do so.
“They are important in keeping the jobs we have and attracting new ones,” he said.
Asked whether it is better for the board of commissioners to be all one party or to have a bi-partisan board, Bemiller said she feels the best people should serve as commissioner. Once elected, they should put away party politics, because they serve county residents, who are both Democrats and Republicans.
Serita Harris said she doesn’t think the political party makes a lot of difference since the commissioners serve residents who fall into both categories.
“Naturally, you want to have different views,” she said. “But you need to make it about the town and the county, not the political party.”
Asked how the local economy compares with the national economy with regard to manufacturing, Smith said he thinks the local economy is doing better and is somewhat insulated from national trends. He added that he sees a similar phenomenon with the housing market; the local market has not had as big of a downturn in sales and prices as the national housing market.
Paul Harris, when asked the same question, said he feels the local manufacturing economy is a little stagnant and there is a need for new ideas, and the use of new technology to attract new industries.
Asked what would be her single most important initiative as commissioner, Bemiller named managing growth and development. She said there must be a balance between development and new business growth with the preservation of farmland and green space.
Justice said his single most important initiative would be to have a new senior citizen center built.