CLEARFIELD – Four people are running for the three Clearfield County Commissioner seats up for grabs in the Nov. 6 general election. Below you will find a bio of each candidate followed by answers to questions posed to them. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
Mark B. McCracken
Democrat
County Commissioner
Incumbent: Yes
Hometown: Clearfield
Biography: I am currently serving my first term as Clearfield County Commissioner. I also currently serve on the Board of Directors for the following: Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation, Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority and was recently named Chairman of the Northern Counties Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative. Additionally, I serve as the Technology Committee Chairman and on the Executive Board of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Prior to being elected county commissioner, I served from 1993 to 2003 on the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors and was employed for 15 years as MIS Director for Clearfield County Government. I graduated from Clearfield Area High School in 1981 and attended ICM School of Business in Pittsburgh. My wife is the former Kelly Owens and we have a daughter Amanda who will turn 5 in late December.
Joan Robinson McMillen
Republican
County Commissioner
Incumbent: No
Hometown: Clearfield, PA
Biography: Joan Robinson McMillen, her husband Kevin, and son Harrison reside in Clearfield. Joan graduated from Clearfield High and Susquehanna University.
Joan brings the following experience: business through her family’s business Robinson’s Men Shop; criminal justice as a probation officer; government and budgeting through Clearfield Borough Council; grant writing; and marketing experience in her current position as Marketing Coordinator with the CCAAA. Joan is currently serving a term on Clearfield Borough Council, Chairman of the Planning and Community Development Committee and member of the Steering Committee for the Riverwalk.
Joan Robinson McMillen will promote our area without compromising our values.
Rex D. Read
Democrat
Clearfield County Commissioner
Incumbent: Yes
Hometown: Lawrence Township
Biography: I am a life long resident of Lawrence Township having graduated from Clearfield High School in 1971 and Penn State DuBois in 1977. I worked in retail sales while attending Penn State in the evenings. The majority of my 25 years of business experience is in management.
I currently serve as Vice-chairman of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Treasurer of the Clearfield-Jefferson Heroin Task Force and director of the Clearfield County Conservation District
My wife Claudia and I have been married 30 years and we have two daughters. Marjorie is married and living in Lansdale Pa and Rebecca is a freshman at Waynesburg University.
Four years ago I resigned my position in the private sector to fulfill my pledge of becoming a full-time working Commissioner and I am completing my first term.
John A. Sobel
Republican
Clearfield County Commissioner
Incumbent: No
Hometown: Clearfield (Lawrence Township)
Biography: I graduated in 1971 from Clearfield High School as valedictorian. I later graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Vanderbilt University in 1975 and earned a law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in 1979.
I have served as law clerk to the Honorable Judges John K. Reilly Jr. and John Cherry. My private practice of law began in 1980 and i have been partners in the firm of Sobel and Collins since 1983.
During my years of practice i have served as solicitor for Children and Youth Services, public defender and solicitor for the Register & Recorder’s Office under Michael Lytle. I have also represented 10 townships, boroughs and municipal authorities.
My outside activities include service as Clearfield Area School Board Director, Clearfield YMCA Director, Red Cross Director and a member of the Bilger’s Rocks Association.
I worship at the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield where I serve as an Elder. I reside in Clearfield and have one daughter, Johnna, age 15, at home.
1: Do you see any area in which Clearfield County excels? If so, what and why?
McCracken: We are making great strides using tourism and marketing as a tool to help drive economic development and to generate interest in the area. One of reasons we are seeing success is that we have many unique communities with locally owned businesses and attractions. Some of the businesses to note include unique locally owned restaurants and the 2 wineries currently in operation. Our natural attractions, including the forests, the waterways, state parks and scenic roadways are also bringing people to the county. Using these attractions to bring visitors to the area has made Clearfield County the second ranked county in the Pennsylvania Wilds region in tourism related revenue.
In the daily operations of county government, many of our departments excel in the performance of their duties. Our County Planning and Solid Waste Authority recently completed an updated comprehensive plan for the county and has been very involved in the landfill issue. Our GIS Department has become a very important tool in providing digital maps and data that assist with economic and community development projects. Our Election Office and IT Department is doing excellent job working with the HAVA compliant voting systems. Our 911 Center has seen significant changes and upgrades over the past couple of years. Just recently, our Director of Veteran’s Affairs worked to have a Vet’s Center locate in DuBois that, prior to his involvement, was going to be located in Williamsport or Johnstown. Finally, I would mention the job the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation staff is doing to assist with economic development and business retention across the county.
McMillen: Clearfield County is blessed with citizens who demonstrate a strong work ethic. This strong work ethic has been a part of Clearfield County from our roots in the coal, lumber, and railroad industries to the modern day industries of manufacturing, logistics, education and medicine.
Clearfield County businesses continue to reap the benefits of a good stable work force. We have a strong work ethic, a deep sense of dignity and pride, and a strong faith in the family and our communities from Coalport to Frenchville and DuBois to West Decatur . Clearfield County has weathered many changes and has the ability through its workers to reinvent itself for a new day.
Clearfield County is also fortunate to have an abundance of natural resources. We are blessed with an abundance of water, natural gas & coal, inexpensive land, higher education facilities, business ready infrastructure, and pristine recreation areas. Clearfield County is attractive in more ways than we realize. Clearfield County is a great place to live, work, and play.
Read: Clearfield County excels in many ways. We are blessed with excellent leadership from both the public and private sectors and the ability for both groups to work together for a common goal, to make Clearfield County a better place to live.
The widely reported development of ethanol and power plants in the county is an example of public/private cooperation but there is more.
Over thirty years ago several wise county residents realized the need to clean up the damaged water all across the county. Without good water they realized there would be no real and substantial development in Clearfield County. Now we have very active watershed groups all across the county not only working to clean up the streams in their areas but also to educate all residents about the importance of restoring and maintaining good clean water.
Sportsmen clubs have also stepped forward and are leading the charge to create good healthy habitat on both the land and in the water. The restocking of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River is a prime example of someone having a vision and others stepping up to make it reality.
This hard work is the cornerstone to fostering economic development.
Sobel: One area that Clearfield County excels in is in the quality and talent of its citizens. I never cease to be amazed by their intelligence, creativity and strength of character. They’re also very all-American in the their outlook toward life. It’s as if they’ve stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
I believe that if we, as commissioners, can give Clearfield Countians opportunities to grow and excel, then they’ll be able to move mountains.
A second area that our county excels in is that we live in the midst of nature in all its glory. We have tremendous potential for growth in tourism and outdoor recreation because of the same.
2: How would you help to foster economic growth?
McCracken: Over the last 4 years, we have made significant changes in the way Clearfield County approaches economic development. Shortly after taking office, the current Board of Commissioners named the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation as the lead economic development agency for the county. Next, we recognized that the only way to get the help from Harrisburg was to make an honest and ongoing commitment to work in cooperation with officials at the state level.
To foster economic development, we work very hard to accommodate the needs of any new or existing business that needs assistance from the county commissioners. We offer any services that county government can provide to assist in economic development including access to GIS data, property records, deed information and the assistance of the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation. These services are not only offered to new businesses wanting to locate in Clearfield County but to our existing businesses. One of my first questions when meeting with someone about a possible economic development project in Clearfield County is, “What can we (the commissioners) do for you?”
I also make it clear that I can be contacted by phone or email anytime if something comes up that needs addressed. This policy worked very well during the process to bring BioEnergy to Clearfield County.
McMillen: I will promote Clearfield County as the Bio Fuels capitol of the US. We have inexpensive land a large supply of water and natural gas, and biomass feedstock for ethanol plants.
I will promote Clearfield County as an “Inland Port”. We are 5 hours from New York City, 4.5 from Philadelphia, 4 from Washington DC and Baltimore. Clearfield County is a natural for intermodel transportation between truck, rail and air.
I will promote Clearfield County as the “Gateway to the PA Wilds”. Clearfield County needs to trademark this and brand Clearfield County within the PA Wilds network.
I will promote our education facilities. Look at any prosperous small town in PA or the US and they are centered around a higher education facility. High paying jobs are attracted to an educated work force. We need to encourage the growth of DuBois Penn State, Clearfield Lock Haven, Triangle Tech, DuBois Business College and the Local Union Training Centers.
Read: I would continue to do what we have been doing in the Commissioners office for the last four years.
Four years ago I pledged to work with all levels of government Federal, State and Local to bring good paying jobs into Clearfield County. This is not something that a Commissioner can do alone. It must be a cooperative effort. It is important that there is a single point of contact for developers to gain access to the information they need. We (the Commissioners) provided this by naming the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) the lead economic development entity for the County. This enables all levels of government to funnel leads and information through one point of contact. It also provides developers the same single point of contact creating less confusion on their part.
The County then supports the CCEDC with all its resources from GIS mapping to tax information. This allows for an efficient streamlined operation that helps put the best foot forward for those seeking sites to develop.
Sobel: There are several ways that I will foster economic development. First of all, I will constantly advocate for Clearfield County to be considered as a good site for business and industry to locate. I won’t care if my audience is local, statewide, national or international.
Secondly, I will regularly be in touch with our state and federal officials in order to enlist their resources.
I will work closely with out local economic development organizations and make sure that Clearfield County has good people working for the county’s advancement. I also believe that we should have, if possible, a county official or employee who spends more time away from Clearfield County than in Clearfield County recruiting business and industry to come here.
Finally, I hope to foster an attitude of thinking outside the box. New and innovative ideas will only help Clearfield County.
3: If you could choose two of those running with you to sit on your board of commissioners, who would they be and why?
McCracken: This is a difficult question to answer. I have served during the last 4 years with Rex Read and our positive record of results comes from our ability to work together and get things done. Rex and I don’t always agree 100 % on every issue, but we have the ability to reason things out and make the best decisions for Clearfield County. So, the first part of the answer is that I fully support Rex Read for one of the positions.
Of the other two candidates, John Sobel and Joan McMillen, both possess unique skills and experience which should allow them to be an effective county commissioner. The best answer I can offer is that it will be up to the voters on November 6th to decide who is elected to the third seat. Regardless of the final outcome, if I am fortunate enough to be re-elected to another term, I will be able to work in a productive manner with the other two commissioners.
McMillen: Growing up in a family of four children I learned early in life to be a team player. I feel that one of my best assets is that I am able to work with just about anyone. I have worked with the public in every job that I have had since I was 16.
The County Commissioners are a board of three. This does not mean that all three will agree on all issues but it does mean that opinions need to be discussed, the facts weighed and when the vote has been cast the board of three need to abide by the majority rule. The most important point is that all commissioners do their homework on the issues before them and make the decision that is best for all of Clearfield County residents.
If given the opportunity to be your County Commissioner I will work hard to make sure that I make the most informed decision on the issues before me. I will work to promote all of Clearfield County.
Read: The Commissioners race is unique in the fact that voters are only allowed to vote for two candidates but the top three vote getters are elected.
I, like every other voter, will only have the opportunity to vote for two of the four candidates running. I choose to keep Clearfield County moving forward and keep the good initiatives of the last four years going by voting for Rex Read and Mark McCracken.
Sobel: One of the freedoms that we Americans enjoy is the right to elect our governing officials. The determination of who our county commissioners will be rests with the electorate and not with me. I don’t have that choice and I shouldn’t have that choice.
I will work with whomever the voters of Clearfield County choose to be their commissioners. That is my responsibility as a county commissioner.
4: What is your position on the possible tolling of Interstate 80?
McCracken: I am opposed to the tolling of Interstate 80. My responsibility as Clearfield County Commissioner is to look out for the interests of the citizens of Clearfield County. Many citizens and local leaders are expressing concern over the impact tolling of I-80 will have on existing businesses and our ability to market Clearfield County to new businesses and for tourism.
The Clearfield County Commissioners recently passed an official county resolution opposing the tolling of I-80 and it was sent to our senators and representatives in Harrisburg and Washington. Additionally, I have been making contact with other county commissioners in counties on the I-80 corridor and I suggested forming a taskforce made up of county commissioners. My goal is to have the taskforce do an intensive lobbying effort in Harrisburg and Washington to hopefully convince officials to overturn the decision. If the tolling decision stays, the next fight will be to keep the tolling plazas, (10 across the length of I-80 are planned), out of Clearfield County. The effect on travel by citizens within Clearfield County on I-80 will be eliminated if no toll booths are located inside the county. However, any type of tolling on I-80 will have negative effect to businesses in the region.
McMillen: I am against tolling I-80. I feel that this is a ill-conceived decision that puts the burden of fixing PA roads and bridges squarely on the back of central Pennsylvania’s citizens. It is unfair and devastating to our local transportation and warehousing industries. Clearfield County has 6 exits on I-80 covering over 41 miles. Tolling I-80 will make us less competitive. Clearfield County is home to 251 warehousing and transportation businesses that employ 4,059 employees. Clearfield County’s central location and easy access to Interstate 80 are prime reasons that Wal-Mart chose to locate a distribution center near Woodlands exit on I-80. Trucking companies and warehouses that are already located here may not be quite as willing to stay and expand if we toll I-80.
I -80 is our economic artery. The remainder of our road system is inadequate to support a modern logistical system. When Clearfield County citizens go somewhere they travel on I-80. Tolling I-80 is equivalent to taxing our driveways. Almost everything we consume or export travels on I-80. These products will need to reflect the cost.
We need jobs and tourism. We need to keep I-80 free.
Read: I am against the tolling of I-80. The potential negative impact tolling I-80 could have on Clearfield County is to great a risk not to oppose the initiative. The Commissioners have passed a resolution against the tolling of I-80 and have sent it to the County’s five representatives in Harrisburg. It is our contention that the development that has taken place in the county is a direct result of the I-80 corridor passing through the heart of Clearfield County.
Sobel: I am opposed to tolling I-80. Clearfield County is trying to develop economically. The last thing that it needs is one more obstacle to growth. Tolls on I-80 will make businesses as well as tourists hesitate to come to our area.
I-80 is the main conduit into and out of Clearfield County. It is vital that travelers and businesses not encounter additional costs to use it.
5: What type of developments would like to see, and conversely, what type(s) would you not like to see in Clearfield County?
McCracken: I want to see Clearfield County continue to bring in industry that will enhance the area and bring better wages and job opportunities to our citizens. We need to see more retail, commercial and residential development come to Clearfield County. I have a firm belief that we need to have more economic development projects from the private sector. The major projects we have worked on during my first term like BioEnergy, Sunnyside and River Hill Power are all private industry.
I am also very interested in community development projects that are going on all over the county. The redevelopment of downtown Clearfield and the riverfront area show tremendous potential to spur private development, not only in Clearfield Borough but in Lawrence Township and other nearby municipalities. Having a redeveloped downtown area that enhances the riverfront will make a positive impression on people who come to Clearfield County. Another project I am supportive of is an appropriate sized regional convention center that community leaders in DuBois and Sandy Township are studying.
The obvious answer of the type of development I would not like to see is landfills. During the last 4 years, the county commissioners have spent a tremendous amount of time and effort dealing with the proposed Camp Hope Run landfill project in Boggs Township. The county commissioners had to take the lead role in questioning this project on behalf of the county and our citizens. Not only have we spent time but we have almost $30,000 invested to date making our case against the project.
The problem with landfill projects is the developers are more concerned with generating big money by accepting out of state trash. They only see dollar signs for themselves and are blind to the harms Clearfield County will see from long term damage to our environment and safety concerns from increased truck traffic on local roads that were never designed to handle the increased traffic volume. I expect within a few months, we will have to take up the same issues as another landfill developer plans to file a permit application with DEP for a landfill in Chest Township.
I have researched the landfill issue in detail. Landfills typically create less than 20 jobs and will only be in operation for a limited number of years.
During the landfill’s operational life, many municipalities in Clearfield County will have to deal with hundreds of trucks a day hauling in out of state garbage. And once the landfill closes, there are no guarantees that the landfill won’t become an environmental disaster site sometime in the future. Honestly, I have looked at this from many angles and I can’t find enough benefits for Clearfield County that will ever outweigh the harms that will be inflicted.
McMillen: The types of development that I would like to see are:
-A first class regional hospital system
-A first class educational system
-Development of an entrepreneur culture where a small family business can achieve the American Dream.
-I am not a centralized Industrial Planner. I am for free markets and free enterprise, where a man and woman can achieve the American dream of owning their own business. We need to provide the tax structure access to capitol and infrastructure to encourage the citizens of Clearfield County to achieve their God given talents.
I do not want to see Clearfield County as home to Industries that spoil our environment and degrade our standard of living and quality of life.
Read: With Clearfield County playing host to at least two if not more ethanol plants, I would like to see this area become the alternative energy hub of Pennsylvania. We have the advantage of good transportation infrastructure with highway and rail as well as abundant sites to host this industry cluster. The work force available to these industries also makes us an attractive site.
Tourism in Clearfield County has just exploded in the last four years. With the Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority (CCRTA) becoming the County Tourism Promotion Agency hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from the hotel room tax has made Clearfield County a top tourism destination. This combined with the Pennsylvania Wilds promotion places Clearfield County as a top place to visit.
I do not want to see landfills developed in Clearfield County. Far too many people have worked to hard to improve our streams and river to risk landfills killing the years of effort that brought about this restoration. There is absolutely no good reason for our county to be the dumping ground for New York and New Jersey. The traffic, the smell, the environmental damage are too much to give up for a promise of few dollars.
Sobel: I would certainly like to see economic development in Clearfield County. Hopefully, our county can become an alternative fuels center, not only for production, but also in research and development.
However, we do need a diversified, healthy economy countywide to have long-term growth.
I would like to see Clearfield County become an educational center. We have a great start with Penn State DuBois, Lock Haven, DuBois Business College and Triangle Tech.
I suppose that the one thing that I don’t want to see is the loss of our rural lifestyle as we grow. We need to make sure that building sprawl and urban-style crime don’t disturb our idyllic “Our Town” style of life.