- Provide a brief professional and personal background.
I was born and raised in Clearfield, and graduated from Clearfield High School in 1992. I attended Penn State and earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1997; I am currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in software engineering.
I briefly worked in the Washington, D.C. area before returning to run the family insurance business in 2000. I ran that business successfully for over 15 years until I sold that business this past July.
I have served on the Clearfield School Board (2007-2013), and was president of the board for four years.
I currently live in DuBois with my wife, Jess and our four sons.
- Why did you choose to run for the office of Clearfield County Commissioner?
My only goal in running for this office is to try to give back to the area I love. I see many issues at the county level – budgetary problems, issues with the county jail, no long-term vision, lack of accountability and transparency – and I believe I can help remedy those problems. I strongly believe in term limits. I want only to help get things moving in the right direction, and then step aside.
- What do you think makes you the best candidate for Clearfield County Commissioner?
My background is engineering, so I enjoy solving problems using analytics and hard data. My 15-plus years of experience as a business owner taught me valuable budgeting and management experience, and also taught me the value of setting clear expectations internally and externally.
My experience on the school board taught me collaboration and negotiating skills, both of which are key to county leadership. My officiating experience has taught me to make hard decisions under pressure and how to deal with criticism.
I am the only candidate not currently on county payroll, so I bring a much-needed outside perspective. Finally, I have no ulterior motive – no relatives in county government, no business to promote. I can and will concentrate solely on the best interests of the county as a whole.
- Do you think Clearfield County is healthy and successful? If not, why?
Unfortunately, I’d have to say no. The data is clear: our population is declining, our budget showed a deficit last year, our facilities are dated and in need of renovation and our tax base is very stagnant. We must find ways to stop the ‘brain drain,’ the steady exodus of our best and brightest young adults to other areas.
- If elected, how would you actively build relationships with and gain the trust of citizens of Clearfield County? How would you engage citizens in the decision-making process?
Engagement and public trust are two of my highest priorities.
I’ve already begun the process; I have visited every township meeting in the county over the past year and almost every borough council. I heard their concerns and made a promise to return to each and every one of them within two years if elected.
I also support efforts to make public access easier. I would push to webcast every public meeting, and I’d also push to move at least some of those meetings to evenings, when working citizens have a better chance to attend.
I also think there needs to be far more public discussion amongst the commissioners about the issues affecting our area. Too often, commissioner meetings are ‘boilerplate’: approve the minutes, pay the bills, take a picture with a group, deal with some minor housekeeping issues, then adjourn.
There’s rarely discussion about the big issues affecting us, and I’d work hard to change that.
- What element of the county’s government is most effective? What element is most ineffective? Why?
I think there are several areas that are quite effective. I’d highlight the Register and Recorder’s office and the Treasurer’s office as being particularly effective and highly responsive to the public’s needs.
In terms of ineffectiveness, while I have not had personal dealings with the Prothonotary’s office, I have heard both county judges complain about the inefficiency there.
I am compelled to point out that court administrator Chip Bell also cited issues with the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts in a recent public budget hearing. Specifically, he reported that the office is out of compliance with regards to timely filings on a number of issues.
- How would you fight the current drug epidemic that’s created a budget crisis for Clearfield County?
While there’s no question that we have a drug epidemic and there’s no question that it has put a strain on county finances, saying that the crisis ‘created’ the budget problem without any additional factors is, in my opinion, a gross oversimplification.
There are many, many factors contributing to the budget problem – some of them outside the commissioners’ control and some within their control.
Regarding the drug problem, I think we have to be very clear about what each party’s role is here. The commissioners are not law enforcement.
They should not be telling the police, the District Attorney or the various judges how to do their jobs. They are obligated to provide a safe, secure and adequately-sized county jail; to make sure that the Children, Youth & Family Services office is properly funded and staffed; to fund the county drug/alcohol task force; and to liaison with all appropriate county agencies to promote cooperation and idea sharing.
This is a huge problem and it will never be ‘solved,’ but we can do a much better job of reducing its scope. Working together and attacking the problem as a cohesive unit – rather than piecemeal/department by department – is the key.
We also should communicate and coordinate with surrounding counties whenever possible. We are all in this battle together.
- As county commissioner, what do you feel is the best way to address the overpopulation issue at the Clearfield County Jail?
This would be one my highest priorities immediately upon taking office. We simply do not yet have enough data to make an informed, long-term decision about the jail.
The first step, in my view, must be a feasibility study. Let’s gather all the data, let’s solicit as many possible solutions to the problem as we can, put them all on the table and discuss what makes the most sense.
The status quo is unsustainable; the jail is in need of renovation, overpopulated and we have no guarantees that Jefferson County will continue to undercharge us for housing our overflow inmates.
This problem has been ‘swept under the rug’ for too long. It’s time to bring this discussion front and center and make some hard decisions.
- What one area of county government would receive more attention if you were elected?
The obvious answer is the jail. I believe that dealing with the issues there is of paramount importance and cannot wait.
Another area I’d like to address is county-wide blight. Blighted properties depress surrounding property values and inhibit efforts to attract out-of-area businesses and families.
We cannot tackle that alone; we will need to collaborate with municipalities and the state to effectively reduce blight, but it’s a worthy undertaking for the long-term future of the county.
- If the county received a $1 million grant to use in anyway it wanted, how would you use it? Why?
Speaking of blight … that would be an excellent way to use a $1 million grant, for the reasons stated above in Question 9. It also could be used to fund the needed feasibility study, or to attack the drug problem in coordination with other agencies and departments.
I think it is worth addressing one area I would not fund with grants: increased wages or additional jobs. Grants are short-term funds; using them to initiate long-term liabilities is unsound fiscal policy.