Five candidates seeking election for Clarion County commissioner had a final opportunity to solicit votes at a candidates forum on Monday night.
Democratic candidates Braxton White and Daniel Carey, Republican candidates Wayne Brosius and Ted Tharan and Independent write-in candidate Andy Montana answered several questions at the forum that was sponsored by Explore Clarion at the Haskell House.
Outlooks and records
White, a member of the Clarion Area School Board, said the county was at a crossroads with a declining population and that his desire is to represent the “next generation.”
Carey, a retired Redbank Valley School District teacher, also pointed to the decline in the county population, and that schools are struggling and the only way out is through growth.
Tharan, the other incumbent, said the board’s accomplishments include purchase of digital radios for emergency personnel, improvements to Veterans Memorial Park, purchase of the Sorce building, installation of the new 911 dispatch center and renovations to the Clarion County Courthouse.
Montana, a Clarion businessman and member of Clarion Borough Council, said the county is in a downward spiral.
He wants to improve emergency medical service, pursue infrastructure funding to make Interstate 80 exits marketable, and prevent the county or any municipality in it from becoming a sanctuary community.
Section 8 housing
White said the increase in Section 8 housing growth is due to fewer students renting in Clarion; so, landlords looked elsewhere for tenants. He said it’s “not necessarily a bad thing” and the new residents could be integrated into the community.
Carey said new dormitories at PennWest-Clarion had two students in each room and, coupled with lower enrollments, created the situation.
Brosius said the Clarion County Housing Authority, not the commissioners, controls housing. He said county residents are given priority for housing.
Tharan said Section 8 clients get “mailbox money” and if they have money not applied to rent they can keep it. He said each of the Section 8 housing tenants are provided vouchers and that when housing is not available in their own communities they can relocate.
Montana said many of the new residents are from the eastern part of the state. “The rentors need tenants” and they must be provided with “good-paying jobs.”
County’s youths
Carey said the only way to keep the county’s youths from leaving is through economic development.
Tharan said it’s natural for younger people to seek the excitement of a city, but in time many return home. He said there is a need for new housing, especially townhouses.
Montana said I-80 exits must be developed to attract new businesses. He noted the county’s population had declined from 42,000 to 36,000 residents.
White said Clarion must be a “walkable” community and that he supports the Main Street initiative. He said commuters could live in Clarion and work in Pittsburgh.
Transportation
Tharan said it is difficult to improve transportation and that it’s cost prohibitive for boroughs and townships to improve roads.
Montana pointed out the county operates buses through the transportation authority and to expand the service to other areas would cost more per trip.
White said the availability of transportation affects a person’s ability to get a job, potentially lifting a person out of poverty.
Carey said the taxi service was encouraging but it’s not free. Transportation must be paid for in a way that is “revenue neutral.”
Brosius said he had spoken with local ministers who offered to help people with transportation problems. “We need to use the resources.”
Use of a grant
If presented with a $1 million grant, Montana said he would put the funds toward infrastructure development at Route 66 North. “That would open hundreds of acres for development.”
White said he would use the grant for emergency services to help with the shortfall, and could be used for equipment and to create mini-grants for emergency personnel.
Carey said he would use the money for communications, especially internet access.
Brosius said he would use the money for a sewage treatment plant at Exit 60 for development at the airport.
Tharan said he would use the money to create a fund that would allow municipalities to borrow from the county and repay the zero interest loan. The money could be used for equipment or an ambulance.