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by Stan Diamond / Observer-Reporter |
A member of League of Women Voters of
Washington County, briefs candidates for commissioner before a recent
forum at Washington & Jefferson College.
Bickering marks commissioner races
BY JON STEVENS, Staff writer
WAYNESBURG - If there is one common thread running through the campaigns
of the six Democratic candidates for Greene County commissioner, it
is the need
to improve the county's infrastructure.
But if James Rizor, Greg Ayersman, Dave Coder, Tom Boyd, Miles Davin
Jr. and
Pam Snyder are not talking about water and sewers, they are discussing
ways
to create jobs and attract businesses here.
The interesting thing about all this is that jobs, new business and
infrastructure are all tied together. Simply, without water and sewerage
systems in place, attracting business, whether high tech or light
industry, is unlikely.
These issues make for popular political rhetoric. Who wouldn't want
a sound
infrastructure that would enable companies to locate here and employ
county
residents?
The question before the voters is which candidates can deliver. The
answer
will not be quick in coming. As one candidate said, it is easy to
say expand the infrastructure, but it is hard to find the money to do it.
There is little doubt the money is available for improving the county's
economic climate, but the money is not sitting in the county's treasury.
For any ambitious project, state and federal money would have to be
acquired.
And frankly, listening to speeches about water and sewers probably
doesn't stir voter fervor.
But up to this point the campaign for commissioner has been void of
contentious name-calling and general rancor. For some, this makes
for boring politics. For others, this is what politics is all about
- addressing issues that are deemed to have the greatest appeal to
the electorate.
Whether voters can distinguish among the positions of the six Democratic
candidates will be decided May 20.
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