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Forum offers commissioner candidates platform

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Candidates prepare their notes as voters find their seats during the Lycoming County Commissioners forum at the Eagle Grange in Montgomery Tuesday night.

MONTGOMERY — Lycoming County commissioner candidates spoke to issues ranging from taxes and spending to regionalization of police and fire at the Eagle Grange 1 political forum Tuesday night.

The candidates for the open commissioner seats in the November election are incumbents Rick Mirabito, a Democrat, and Republican Tony Mussare, as well as Democrat Elliott Weiss and Republican Scott Metzger.

Jack McKernan, an incumbent who lost in the Republican primary, is staging a write-in campaign to keep his seat.

Candidates were each given three minutes to give opening and closing statements. They also answered questions without debating the issues.

McKernan told the audience that he is “exceedingly well qualified” to continue as a commissioner as he is familiar with county operations.

“The last four years, I have invested 110 percent in the county,” he said. “I’m a voice for all the people.”

Weiss said he brings experience as an attorney and former Williamsport city councilman to the job of commissioner. He noted also his volunteerism in the community.

He said the county is in deep financial trouble and called for attracting new business.

Mirabito noted his business experience as a rental property owner who has created jobs, as well as his three terms as a state representative. He also referred to his time serving on the finance, local government and agriculture, and rural affairs committees in the Legislature.

He said he’s for transparency and accountability in county government.

Metzger said he is a public servant, having worked in the county adult probation department for 32 years.

“I understand what is going on in county government,” he said. “I chose to retire early because I wanted to change things.”

Mussare said among his accomplishments as commissioner have been cutting spending and addressing crime.

He said he is running to continue to “do good for the county.”

Candidates were asked about the biggest mistake of their lives and how it made them better people.

Mussare said, as a commissioner, he regretted the decisions that went into building a new district judge office outside Hughesville. A project that cost $800,000 should have been just $500,000, he explained.

Weiss said he is a tax lawyer and probably should have made the decision to go ahead and attain an accounting degree.

Metzger said when he’s made mistakes, he asks God for guidance.

“I would have liked to have had more kids in life,” Mirabito said.

McKernan said he regretted not getting into the shredding business.

“Now they are everywhere,” he said.

Candidates were asked about the possibility of the county undergoing its first real estate reassessment since 2004.

Weiss said a reassessment in theory results in about one third of property owners experiencing a tax increase, another third experiencing a tax decrease and the rest seeing no change in their taxes.

“I’m opposed to it,” he said.

Metzger said what is needed is real tax reform.

“School property taxes are through the roof,” he said.

McKernan said the county has the software in place to conduct a reassessment.

“I think it will come about in the next few years,” he said.

Mussare said property owners are not always taxed fairly.

“I’m in favor of it (reassessment),” he said.

Candidates addressed where spending cuts can be made in county government. Metzger said there are certainly positions that can be slashed.

“We have to look at our medical plan,” he added.

Mirabito noted that the number of county employees has increased from 500 to 552. He called for having people work more efficiently.

“We can’t turn around the budget overnight,” he said.

McKernan noted that some jobs will be soon be lost to retirement. Other measures, he said, include closing one of the county buildings.

Mussare called for eliminating the prevailing wage and eliminating the use of engineers for county projects.

“That is waste we need to cut,” he said.

Weiss said it comes down to cutting expenses and growing the economy.

“I would freeze employment immediately,” he said. “Find out where we can cut people.”

Weiss said taxes have gone up 37 percent in just the last five years.

Regarding regionalization of police and fire departments, Mirabito said it’s a way of eliminating duplication of services.

“If we find a way to combine resources, we will save money,” he said.

However, it may come down to incentivizing some municipalities to go along with regionalization plans.

McKernan said he’s in favor of regionalization, but municipalities have to want it. Mussare said municipalities are getting the message.

“I think they are ready to make this move,” he said.

Weiss called regionalization a “great idea.”

“I certainly support it,” he said. “We can’t force it on townships.”

Metzger said, “Regionalization with fire and police is crucial.”

He agreed that it cannot be forced upon municipalities but rather encouraged.

Candidates were asked to cite an area of county government that is not getting proper attention.

McKernan said inmates of the county prison with mental health, drug and alcohol problems need to be addressed.

Mussare said many senior citizens are struggling to pay their property taxes.

“How can we make it fairer for seniors? This is something I’m pleading with the Legislature to fix,” he said.

Weiss said addressing economic development and job growth is needed.

Metzger said property taxes are simply too high for many homeowners.

Addressing flood issues and the levee are also priorities, he added.

Mirabito, noting that the county is 64th in income growth and 53rd in population growth among all the state’s counties, called for growing tourism.

He said the county hotel tax is one means of addressing that.

Mussare told the audience Lycoming County is a great place to live. He called county employees dedicated, and he said it would be an honor for him to serve with any of the commissioner candidates.

“I think we all have good intentions. We all want to see the county prosper,” he said.

Metzger said he is running on reform, restraint and repair.

Reform, he said, means embracing the value of the county while restraint means looking at spending.

“I make decisions. I get things done,” he said.

Mirabito said government works best when it’s open to scrutiny.

“As a commissioner, my number one responsibility is the budget,” he said.

He said he supported cutting positions because he wanted efficiency in government.

Weiss vowed to keep taxes in line and to grow the economy.

He called for developing county land across from the landfill and for housing at the White Deer Golf complex.

He also said flooding issues in Jersey Shore and Muncy need addressed.

McKernan pointed to his accomplishments while in office, which he said included strengthening the real estate tax base, reducing spending, and increasing the fund balance.

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