Bagdes-Canning will 'go to mat'
CHERRY VALLEY — Michael Bagdes-Canning was not planning this year to run for Butler County commissioner.
However, in watching the primary and then hearing the candidates who won that election, he kept waiting for them to address what he saw as the “root issues” the county is facing.
“That wasn’t done,” Bagdes-Canning, 62, of Cherry Valley said. “So I got into it.”
Bagdes-Canning of the Green Party is one of five candidates who are running for three commissioner seats. The other candidates are Republicans Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer, and Democrats Jerry Johnston and Kevin Boozel. The election is Nov. 3.
The current commissioners — Bill McCarrier, Dale Pinkerton and Jim Eckstein — are not on the ballot.
Fight for the countyBagdes-Canning said his top priority is to “go to the mat” for the county.“I’m going to fight for Butler County, and I don’t think the other candidates know how to fight,” Bagdes-Canning said.For example, he said a major expenditure the county will have to deal with is the government-mandated upgrade to the 911 radio system, which is estimated to cost $13 million.Bagdes-Canning said if the county replaced the system just by itself, it would cost $5 million. However, he said the federal government decided the county needed to vacate its radio frequencies, and the government would then auction them off.“What happened, I think, was actually a theft. We had those frequencies. We spent money to get those frequencies. But, the government decided we had to vacate them,” Bagdes-Canning said.He said he would call out federal officials on this issue, including U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler.However, he said ultimately the system does need to be replaced. As far as where the money is coming from, he said federal officials have to be held accountable since he said they are the ones who took the frequencies.
Passionate about countyBagdes-Canning said he is qualified to be a commissioner because he has been in government for 26 years on the Cherry Valley Borough Council.He also said he has a different temperament from the other candidates. He said he got feedback following a candidates’ debate was that he was “an angry man.”“I don’t think I’m angry. I think I’m intense,” Bagdes-Canning said. “I passionately care about Butler County, and when I see issues not being addressed, I will speak up about them.”He said he would not cut any county programs or departments right now, saying the county and local governments by and large have spent money wisely. It is the state government, he said, that has been irresponsible and has put more burden on counties.“That sounds sort of irresponsible, but if they can’t work that stuff out in Harrisburg, then why are we supposed to do that? It’s policies from Harrisburg ... that are creating this problem,” Bagdes-Canning said.
Not a reckless spenderIn his 26 years on council in Cherry Valley, Bagdes-Canning said he has never voted for a tax increase.“We don’t spend money recklessly, and as a county commissioner, I wouldn’t spend money recklessly,” Bagdes-Canning said.He said he would not making any decisions without hearing what county residents want.“I will be a servant. I will ask questions,” Bagdes-Canning said.Although a commissioner’s role in economic development is limited, he said commissioners can be ambassadors for the county.“What a commissioner can do is be a fierce advocate for Butler County,” Bagdes-Canning said.With agriculture and tourism being the biggest industries in the county, he said the county should promote those industries.He would like to see the county in cooperative enterprises by incentivizing food co-ops or farmer co-ops. He also is interested in giving entrepreneurs and businesses the same incentives that were given to large outside companies to come to the county.“Why are we subsidizing millionaires when we have people in Butler County who I am sure are very able entrepreneurs who can create lots of jobs, too?” Bagdes-Canning said. “We aren’t investing in our people.”
Gas drilling concernsBagdes-Canning, who is involved with Marcellus Outreach Butler, has concerns about Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling in the county.“The longer they’re (wells) there, the more problems they are going to cause,” Bagdes-Canning said.Although advocates of drilling tout the jobs it brings, he said it could be considered part of a boom-and-bust cycle that has happened in the county in the past, saying the companies come in, make a profit, leave the county and leave behind a mess.He said he would rather see the county build on something that is sustainable. He noted the Carlisle School District in 2009 invested $5 million to create a solar power field, which it paid off last year. He said it pays its electric bill, and the school now has a classroom to train students for jobs in the solar and technical fields.He said gas drilling is symptomatic of other issues in the county, saying the county “bends over backward” to help large companies while 30 percent of the county’s bridges are considered deficient.
Transportation neededBagdes-Canning said there are roads in the county that need improvement. Additionally, he wants to see improved public transportation. Although it can bring a lot of startups costs, public transit pays for itself in the long run, he said.“We have people in Butler City who are unemployed. We have jobs in Cranberry,” Bagdes-Canning said. “Why is it that people in New Castle can get to Cranberry? Why is it that people in Pittsburgh can get to Cranberry, but people in Butler can’t get to Cranberry?”To accomplish this, he said the commissioners need to talk to state legislators and to Congressman Kelly.
Mistake to sell centerBagdes-Canning said the county’s selling of the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2014 was a mistake, and said there were supposed to be some cost benefits that came from it.“I don’t know that those things have come to fruition,” Bagdes-Canning said.He said Sunnyview was a “gem” that was well run.As far as senior centers, which had their operation hours cut this year, he said it seemed like the commissioners acted without consulting seniors. He said he would want to talk to seniors about how they are being served.He also said he would like the commissioners to have a “real conversation” with the public. He noted the current commissioners cut the amount of time for public comment.“If you don’t have time to sit down and listen to the people who are paying your salaries and give them a public airing of their concerns, then I think you’re amiss,” Bagdes-Canning said.Although he considers himself intense, he said he does not have any problem getting along with others.“My neighbors are conservative Republicans, yet I’ve been serving for 26 years. I get along with people,” Bagdes-Canning said, also noting his work teaching delinquent boys at George Junior Republic, a facility for problem youths.He said he would deal with being a new commissioner by jumping in and learning.“If I’m elected Nov. 3, then Nov. 4 I’LL be in the commissioners’ office and I’ll be talking with whoever is willing to talk to me,” Bagdes-Canning said.
