The INDEPENDENT, April 18, 2012
County candidates weigh in on issues
From page 1
budget. The Fair is doing very
well, though, with lots of volun-
teers.
Luttrell –
My idea
is
to
bring in
jobs and
get our
economy
going.
I’ve been
working
Terry Luttrell
on that.
On April 27 is the
ORPET Grand Opening with
50 jobs and there are projects
at Port Westward. I see the
light at the end of the tunnel
with these. We have to learn to
get by with less, but jobs and
county dollars tax base helps.
Preheim – That’s a hard one.
Number one, in any govern-
ment is that there are ways. A
lot of people have given me
ideas, like a quarterly contest
for an idea that saves the most
money. I don’t think I or the
county commissioners can
know as much about any job as
the ones doing the work. This
year’s budget problem is driven
by payroll, but I think those
people can be the solution with
ideas to save money. We’re not
bankrupt so, overall, it’s not as
bad as things can be.
2. Should county commis-
sioners continue to assist
department heads or should
they hire middle managers?
Fisher – People suggest we
should have a county manager.
I’m neutral on that. It’s up to the
county residents, but that
would probably cost more in
salaries.
Luttrell – Can’t see where we
could have more people, due to
the budget. I think county com-
missioners should be able, with
department supervisors, to
handle it. If the job isn’t getting
done, you have to figure out
how to get it done.
Preheim – I don’t know, it’s
something I’d consider. We do
have managers, like the budg-
et officer and all department
heads are, hopefully, man-
agers. I think the top executive
should be in charge of those
people, but I’ve seen it work
well both ways at the city level.
3. What do you consider to
be the commissioners’ du-
ties and responsibilities?
Fisher –
County
commis-
sioners
have a
variety of
duties;
we ad-
minister
the $40
Earl Fisher
million
that comes through
the county and includes money
for road funds, the sheriff’s of-
fice, and health funds. We also
handle land use issues, such
as what you can and can’t do
with your land. We pass
statutes and ordinances that
impact people’s lives (like dog
ordinances). I don’t deal with
the war in Afghanistan or the
federal deficit. I do deal with
whether your neighbor’s dog is
barking all night or whether a
road gets fixed. Those are
things we deal with that affect
real people every day.
Luttrell – Basically they over-
see the entire business of the
county; staffing, roads, repairs,
anything to do with the court-
house and the upkeep of the
county. It’s a pretty broad re-
sponsibility, but with the right
people in there, I don’t think
there should be a problem.
Preheim
–
Our
number
one duty
is public
s a f e t y.
T h e
county
sheriff
and that
Brady Preheim
depart-
ment is in pretty bad shape,
with a $1 million shortfall in a
$4 million budget. That’s a
huge cut and I don’t know that
that’s the place the county
should be cutting, at least as
drastically as that. Second, to
balance the budget as required
by state law. Third, oversee
and be the representative of
the people in the county and
listen to them. I’ve been to sev-
eral county commissioner
meetings and they have acted
like people who attend are a
bother. It’s almost painful to
see. I understand there are
times when their hands are tied
and it’s frustrating for them as
well, but the fact of the matter
is they are the chief executives
See Candidates on page 11
Page 5
Vote Reginald Ward
For Columbia County
Commissioner
Ward will work for:
Family Wage Jobs,
Small Businesses,
Good Schools
Ward will:
Work for You
Listen to You
Be Accountable to You
Paid for by Reginald Ward