Larry Lynn Garner has announced his bid for the Republican nomination for Clearfield County Commissioner.
Garner is a 1983 graduate of the Hollidaysburg High School. He and his wife, Karen, moved to LaJose, Clearfield County, in 1989.
Garner and his wife have one daughter, Victoria Lynn, whom they home-schooled and whom now attends the Dubois Business College.
Garner is employed as a coal truck operator by Ollinger Bros Inc., which is located in Altoona.
He has been the secretary/treasurer for Chest Township for seven years. He now also holds the position of secretary/treasurer for New Washington Borough of which he was instrumental in moving into the 21st century with the purchase of computer equipment and filing required documents electronically.
Garner states that, “I have three jobs and I am not looking for a job. I am looking to represent the forgotten property owners of Clearfield County.”
Garner and his wife are the organizational leaders for the Clearfield County 4-H Hot Shots shotgun club, as well as Boy Scout shooting instructor volunteers.
Garner is a life member of the National Rifle Association and a certified shotgun instructor.
He is actively involved with the following organizations: Grampian Lions Club International; Firearms Owners Against Crime; Second Amendment Foundation; Clearfield/Centre County Friends of NRA committee; secretary of the Clearfield County Republican committee; secretary of All Seasons Trap and Skeet Club; Second Amendment Chair of the Clearfield County Patriots; audit chairman for the Curwensville Moose Lodge 268; vice president of the Curwensville Moose Riders Lodge 268; officer of the Clearfield Eagles Aerie 812; Chinklacamoose Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania; and Susquehanna Chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation.
“As county commissioner, I will focus on the fiscal management of the public’s tax dollars. The current policy of cutting expenditures is a solid conservative idea, but it is unsustainable due to increased costs of mandated services from the state legislature,” states Garner.
“I want to look beyond property tax revenue for county expenditures, a consumption- or user-based fee, possibly a percentage of sales tax, would be in order. The possibility of drastically reducing or eliminating the burden of county property taxation is not out of the question.
“The idea of any alternative tax needs to be offset by returning the balance to the property owner. Otherwise, it would amount to a tax increase, not a tax shift.”
Garner continues, “I intend to return property rights to the property owners by reducing the power of the County Planning Commission. Who does private property belong to the tax payer or the county? Too many lives have been negatively affected by the planning commission’s abuse of power.
“As commissioner, I promise the citizens of Clearfield County that I will not sign or endorse any policies that are unconstitutional, infringe on anyone’s rights or aren’t in the best interest of the citizens.
“I firmly believe smaller government is the answer to our fiscal responsibility to the community. When government increases in size through consolidation or other means, the taxpayer loses their power of recognition because of the sheer number of extra citizens needing served.
“Lastly to the extent of power vested in our County Sheriff Wes Thurston, I will stand with and refuse to allow any agency to remove your constitutional right to protect yourself with your firearms.”