Each of the Clarion County commissioner candidates had another opportunity ahead of the May 16 primary election to convince voters that he is the right candidate for the job.
Republicans Wayne Brosius, Ted Tharan, Kirke Wise and Brady Feicht, and Democrat Braxton White were in attendance at the annual Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry legislative breakfast, held at Motel 6. All three commissioner positions are open. Brosius and Tharan are incumbents.
After the candidates made their opening statements, there were only two questions regarding the issues that came from the public.
Workforce development
The candidates were asked about their ideas on how to address development of the area’s workforce.
Feicht said he would bridge the gap between juniors and seniors. “I feel that is an area where the county is struggling. I would expand upon the opportunities here in the county. We don’t have many companies that employ 100 people, but we have companies that employ 10 or 12 people. That is the backbone here.
“I would like to work with the guidance counselors here and create a database for resumes for college eligible kids and kids who want to go into the workforce. I hope that would bridge the gap and fill the openings here.”
Tharan said the county needs good affordable housing and day care, which would allow both parents the opportunity to work, and more high-speed broadband. “People can work from home that way. If you have those three things, people will come.”
Brosius, a member of the Workforce Development Board for Northwest Pennsylvania, said there are programs available for people who want to develop their skills. “There is training money for the youth and adults. People need to take advantage of that opportunity.” He also invited anyone with issues to contact him.
“In a nutshell, the future is now,” Wise said. “Things are changing. Families have very busy schedules. They demand a certain higher minimum than in days gone by. There is a nationwide crisis of people who do not want to work.
“One of my goals is to promote high tech because that will bring people here. It is a big issue, but I am intensely interested in fixing it.”
White said he chose to live in Clarion County because it is a safe place to raise a family. “It is not just about your job. We need to invest in more of our outdoor recreation facilities. We are not able to one-up these other places with wages. We can support adult education programs to train our workforce. There are a lot of puzzle pieces that go into this.”
Courthouse
The candidates were asked what they would do to renovate the Clarion County Courthouse.
Brosius said the county is working on plans for renovating the basement. “We will move another county office into that area, an office that is presently costing the county rent every month,” and working with President Judge Sara Seidle-Patton on other renovations. “After the basement, we will work on the HVAC system.”
Feicht said he has spoken with various people in the courthouse to determine the needs. “I would look at the budget and available grants and see how we can make that happen to make it the best it can be.”
Wise said the courthouse must be preserved. “We need to take care of the courthouse and utilize it for offices. I would have to go into it and look it over. We would need to do it within our means and get grants wherever possible.”
White said the courthouse is in need of renovation. “Of course I would talk with Judge Seidle-Patton and all of the folks that are in there. We need to do it within our means. To keep the cost down.”
Tharan said his 40 years in construction has been a godsend. “The architect is drawing up plans for the entire basement project. We have a $900,000 grant for the project. When we move, another office in the courthouse will be entirely filled up.”
He pointed to various improvements that the county has undertaken. “We are putting new bathrooms on the second floor … We are working on replacing the HVAC system”; new windows were installed by county workers, which saved the county $500,000. He acknowledged there are two thermostats in the courthouse; “so everyone is either too hot or too cold. There is no insulation in the attic, and I could go on. There are other things that need to be done, probably as one project.”