MOUNT VERNON — Two Democratic candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for one of three Knox County Commissioner seats.
On Tuesday, voters will decide whether Serita Harris or Earl Justice will face Allen Stockberger in November. Both candidates place a high importance on attracting new industries and creating good-paying jobs.
Justice, a former Clinton Township Trustee, said he will work to improve the highway system in the county to bring in new industries and jobs. He thinks this can be done without destroying Knox County farmland. He advocates the contruction of a previously discussed new bridge from Sandusky Street over the Kokosing River to direct traffic from Sandusky Street to Ohio 13 or Ohio 661.
“Instead of talking and having studies, we need to work together and do something,” he said. “A lot of jobs aren’t going to stay here if companies have to pay drivers four days’ work to come from Columbus and come back.”
Harris said the county needs safer, more efficient roadways that will attract new industries. She advocates a bypass around Mount Vernon, adding that she is in favor of the preservation of local farmland.
“If there is not a hub or easy access, [new industries] won’t come,” she said, adding that it is necessary for county officials to reach out to new businesses. “We cannot wait for them to call us.”
Harris said she has spent a great deal of time researching new technologies, particularly clean or green technologies such as wind and solar power. These technologies, she said, hold a great deal of future promise for industries in Knox County.
Both candidates identify the improvement of senior citizen care in the county as one of their major campaign goals.
Justice said that, if elected, he will devote his efforts toward getting a nice, new senior citizen center built, since The Station Break senior center in Mount Vernon is too small to meet the needs of local seniors. He said the current board of commissioners wanted to have the center built on Coshocton Avenue, but he said he thinks Coshocton Avenue has too much traffic and is difficult for most seniors to get to on a regular basis. He said an area of city-owned land near the city water plant would be a better choice.
Harris said she recently had a conversation with a local senior citizen who asked her whether she would make improving senior citizen programs a priority. She said she considers providing more services to seniors one of her major goals, and added that many such services have been cut since the last election.
“Seniors are not getting enough to eat at The Station Break,” she said. “Housekeeping services have been cut, and lawn mowing services for seniors are going to be cut, too.”
All three members of the current board of commissioners are Republicans, and both Harris and Justice think it would be better for Knox County to have more political diversity on the board.
“I don’t think it’s good to have all one party,” Harris said. “But the people have to put aside party politics and do what’s good for Knox County.”
She said she thinks county residents want a change, and said that although she has never served in local government, she is a hard worker and feels she can do good job as commissioner. She said she will learn whatever is needed to do a good job.
Justice said he wants to be fair to all Knox County residents.
“I want to see both parties represented,” he said. “I want to do the best I can for Knox County and work with anybody, whether they are Republican or Democrat.”