Commissioner Candidates Showcased
BUTLER TWP — The 10 Republican candidates for Butler County commissioner discussed such topics as infrastructure needs and taxes during a forum Wednesday night in the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
The candidates seeking one of two GOP nominations in the May 19 primary are James Butler of Prospect, Kim Geyer of Adams Township, Jim Keffalas of Butler Township, Mark Lux of Clay Township, Lisa Metcalfe of Cranberry Township, Bob O'Neill of Cranberry, Leslie Osche of Butler Township, Jeff Smith of Butler, Larry Thompson of Oakland Township and Justin Trainor of Penn Township.
Republican Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton are not running.
The 10 candidates were each asked a question on a different topic as well as given the opportunity to address the others' comments. All were polled about their qualifications for the post.
The event was sponsored by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, the Butler Eagle and Armstrong.
Ron Vodenichar, Butler Eagle general manager and co-publisher, was the moderator.
Osche, the former executive director of the United Way of Butler County, named several state routes that are pivotal access routes.“Route 228 has certainly been an issue for residents,” she said, referring to congestion on the two-lane road extending from Cranberry Township across Route 8 and ending at Buffalo Township.According to Osche, Routes 68 and 356, which also have only two lanes, would need addressed at some point through consensus-building with residents and businesses.She said the northern part of the county can't grow until there is better access from the southern half.Butler, who is the mayor of Prospect, said stormwater and sewage issues also are part of the equation.“It goes beyond just roads,” he said.Butler said addressing all infrastructure needs would bring growth.“It will make it more attractive to developers,” he said.O'Neill, a corporal with the Cranberry Township police department, agreed that infrastructure is vital to the county with a rising population.“What we're lacking is infrastructure and partnerships,” O'Neill said.Lux, the receiving manger for the Boscov's store in the Clearview Mall, said the county must seek state and federal grant funding to manage growth.“Let's get it into our county,” he said.Metcalfe, who works for PharmBlue in Warrendale, also stressed the importance of infrastructure improvements, which lead to job creation.“We will have stores here,” she said. “We will have businesses here.”Metcalfe said farmers would have improved access to the marketplace.“This will all lead to economic growth,” she said.
Keffalas, a Butler School Board member and a Realtor, said the county's property taxes are too high.“I think we're paying too much now,” he said.Keffalas said money should not be spent on “pet projects” that benefit only a few.“That's not right,” he said.Keffalas said the growth of county human services, which caused the construction of a new office building, is a concern even though much of the funding is supplied by the state.“It's creating a populace dependent on county handouts,” he said.Keffalas said an analysis of human services needs to be done.
Smith, the city treasurer, said a previous attempt to start a bus route from the county to Pittsburgh is still viable.“The idea is still there,” he said.However, he said the way to implement the service is not through government sponsorship.“There are plenty of commercial business services around,” Smith said.
Smith said his extensive government experience, which includes being the executive director of the Butler County Council of Governments, makes him suited to be commissioner.“Some of us have done a little more public service than others,” he said.Geyer, a business owner and McCarrier's administrative assistant, said her familiarity with county government makes her an ideal candidate.“I don't have to start at ground zero,” she said.Thompson, a former county jury commissioner and a former county deputy register of wills/clerk of orphans' court, said he has the ability to listen.“We must restore good order,” he said, alluding to contention among the current board of commissioners. “I'm committed to seeing this through.”Trainor, a U.S. Air Force veteran and second-generation owner of the Hardwood Cafe in Penn Township, cited his military experience as a government liaison and budget specialist, handling a multimillion dollar operating budget.He said he would bring a fresh perspective to county government.“I represent new policies and a new vision,” Trainor said. “I want our best days ahead of us. I think I'm the one who can turn it around.”Metcalfe said she would control costs.“I'm a true conservative who believes we have to live within our means,” she said.Osche said serving as commissioner would only continue a lifetime of public service.“It's what I've done my entire life,” she said.O'Neill said he's a natural leader.“I've motivated public servants to go above and beyond,” he said.Geyer said she would instill trust.“If people don't trust you, you can't be an effective leader,” she said.Lux said a commissioner does not need to be a business owner or have government experience to represent the average person.“It comes down to common sense,” he said.Lux brought up the topic of possible consolidation of the 10 senior centers in the county.“I would not close one of them,” he said. “Our county is growing.”
