- What makes you qualified to serve as a county commissioner? If you're an incumbent, what accomplishment(s) in the current term make you worthy of re-election?
- With eight years legislative experience as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, I understand both state and county issues and can lobby and gain state support for Cabell County.
With twenty years experience in procedural hearings representing individuals,I have extended knowledge in legal matters and decisions effecting people.
Being an elementary teacher/reading specialist, I developed a sense of community and work well with people.
- Regional jail costs continue to plague county budgets across the state. Notwithstanding action at the state level, how do you propose for Cabell County to deal with these costs?
- County government needs to increase resources to combat causes for the increase in crimes and co-operate with the judicial system in using alternative methods of punishment other than jail time.
Non-violent criminals could be placed on probation with home confinement and fined the cost of such services.
Investigations into why regional jails costs are so high need to occur now!
- In the past, the County Commission office has pushed for bond reductions and alternative sentencing in specific cases. Do you support the County Commission involving itself in such issues as one way to reduce jail costs?
- Yes, I support the County Commission being involved in issues to reduce jail costs since the Commission is required to pay the high costs with our tax money.
Unfortunately, we all pay the cost when crimes occur.
- Cabell County's budget has been very tight for several years. State law also restricts the county from greatly increasing its property/real estate tax rate. How would you reallocate money in the upcoming term? What would your budgeting priorities be?
- My budget priorities for the upcoming term would depend upon the Commission's obligations and mandated spending requirements.
If money was available, I would allocate for:
(1.) Hiring additional law enforcement officers
(2.) Fair and equable salaries for courthouse employees
(3.) Infrastructure improvements
(4.) Methods to attract businesses to the county
- Outside of regional jail expenses, what are the three most pressing issues that impact residents in Cabell County?
- ORIGINAL ANSWER: In my opinion, the three most pressing issues that impact residents in Cabell County are:
(1.) Employment opportunities - good paying jobs that offer health care coverage for families
(2.) Increase of crime and drug use that threatens families' sense of security
(3.) Affordable water and sewage services
UPDATED ANSWER (9/14/2008): (1.) Employment opportunities - good paying jobs that offer health care coverage for families
(2.) Increase of crime and drug use that threatens families' sense of security
(3.) Affordable water and sewage services.
- In the upcoming term, what solutions would you propose for these three issues?
- For employment opportunities, the commission needs to attract more businesses by reducing fees for specific economic development projects that contract to remain for a long period of time or pay back the reduced fee differences.
The commission needs to fund additional law enforcement officers to fight the increased crime due to drug use.
The commission needs to fund additional water and sewer lines, especially in areas to attract industry and small businesses.
- Outgoing Sheriff Kim Wolfe and others consistently ask for more law enforcement officers. Are you a proponent for increasing the size of the force, and would it happen during your term?
- With the increase in crime and drug use, there is a need for additional law enforcement officers.
Officers should be available to respond immediately to emergency calls as well as community traffic problems.
Crime appears to be on the increase due to drug users need for money by whatever means.
Yes, I would be a proponent for increasing the size of the force and would vote to have it happen during my term.
- During the recent past, there has been friction between the County Commission and the Sheriff's Department. How would you enhance that relationship in the upcoming term?
- For the last 20 years. I have worked with people who were dealing with employment issues or personal problems that were seeking solutions either through grievances or mediation or the meeting of all parties involved.
These experiences have equipped me with the ability to listen, facilitate,and compromise to enhance positive relationships.
I would seek to work closely with the Sheriff's Department to decide goals reachable for the county.
- Sheriff's deputies conducted an informational picket in 2007. The issue was pay raises. Proponents say Cabell County loses trained deputies to other departments because of salaries within the department. Would you support pay raises for county law enforcement deputies? If so, how much of a raise?
- I would support pay raises for county law enforcement deputies.
The pay raises should be competitive with those of law enforcement officers at the regional jails and federal agencies.
I would seek comparisons on both pay scales, required training,etc. keeping in mind budget priorities.
- The Cabell County Commission assessed a 3 percent administrative fee upon the county's EMS and 911 agencies in 2007. Would you propose increasing or decreasing this amount, or would you propose repealing the fee?
- I would not propose either an increase or decrease in the 3% administrative fee because that money was earmarked for part of a county employee pay raise.
It was my understanding that both the county EMS and 911 agencies were not opposed to this assessment or that it would affect their departments.
I would seek resources and revenue to address employee salaries.
I would further investigate what administrative services the county commission supplies to EMS and 911 agencies, at what costs to see if the assessment is justified.
- In 2007, commissioners considered a proposal to merge public service districts serving Culloden, Pea Ridge and Salt Rock. Would you vote in favor of such a proposal? Do you support merging any public service district?
- I would support merging all public services districts under one county infrastructure (water/sewer) system plan if such a merger would update the services in which outdated water and sewer lines could be gradually replaced without a cost assessed to home owners.
More needs to be done by both the county and the state to secure grants and matching federal funds to update services and extend safe drinking water and proper sewage to rural areas.
I live in the Pea Ridge area and have a flooded basement due to drainage and outdated sewers.
I would support the merger, if it provided better service at a lower rate especially for sewer fees.
- Do you support metro government? This could include a county-county or city-county merger. Why or why not?
- ORIGINAL ANSWER: This question must be answered with both a yes and a no.
Yes, if the concept would produce more efficient government for the taxpayers in Cabell County and save us money.
Yes, if the rules and regulations and tax structure are understood and benefit both the county/county or city/countymerger.
No, because why would the county merge to the city with money problems and rising debts.
There are to date no set rules that define metro government and our policial system would be questionable.
This is a legislative issue that needs refinement with checks and balances.
UPDATED ANSWER (9/14/2008): Yes, if the concept would produce more efficient government for taxpayers and save money. Yes, if rules and regulations and tax structure are clear and benefit all involved.
No, if county and/or city have money problems.
Need set rules defined for policial system. Legislative issue that needs refinement with checks and balances.
- Would you support the building of more ambulance stations within the county? If so, where?
- Yes, I would support the building of more ambulance stations within the county if funds and grants are available.
The quicker the response time for people in emergencies, the more lifes could be saved.
Building of more ambulance stations should be based on population numbers, traffic/accident numbers, and areas of coverage response time.
I understand that there is a proposal to build a new one in Milton with which I agree.
I further support the building of the new EMS station in the west end of the county on West 14th Street.
There is a need for a possible station in upper eastern Cabell County near the Culloden area.
- Is there a need for more public water/sewer lines in Cabell County? If so, name three specific locations where you would push for water/sewer projects in the upcoming term.
- Yes, there is a need for more public water/sewer lines in Cabell County.
Three specific locations where public water/sewer projects could be located are:
1.) Northern part of the county toward the Mason County line beyond Greenbottom for industrial/business locations
2.) Roads extending from Route 2 in same area as #1 location to include Barker Ridge
3.) Area between Salt Rock and Barboursville
- How can the County Commission be involved in increasing the county's tax base through more business and a better economy?
- The County Commission can work to attract more business by making county land sites available where water and sewer lines are installed and the roads are available for transportation for sending and receiving of materials needed.
Advertising of the positive things and places that would attract families to live in Cabell County is needed.
Use local workers to build county work projects, so that money remains in the county economy.
- Do you support county commission's control of the county's courthouse security force?
- This question refers back to question number eight and the county commission's relationship with the sheriff's department.
I do not know the reasons for the change, but I would support the county commission's control of the county's courthouse security force because the final responsibility for all of the courthouse security for both employees and citizens traveling in and out of the courthouse rests with the county commission.
If the responsibility is the commission's than the control should be their decision with input from related departments.
- Dilapidated housing and trash concerns have been an issue in the City of Huntington. Does this also need to be an issue in Cabell County? Do you believe there is a dilapidated housing/trash problem in the county and along its roadways? If so, what solutions would you support in the upcoming term?
- ORIGINAL ANSWER: Dilapidated housing and trash are a concern everywhere. It becomes a matter of whether neighborhoods have a "sense of community".
Trash problems on county roadways are a concern, but not a large problem in Cabell County.
Both of these problems become an issue to the value of home owners property and resale possibilities.
I would support community clean-up projects through awareness programs,public opinion campaigns which point out area of problems naming guilty parties where possible.
I would support state legislative action with regard to fire insurance and payments to rid areas of dilapidated structures caused by fire damage.
UPDATED ANSWER (9/14/2008): Dilapidated housing and trash are a concern in all of Cabell County. Both of these problems become an issue to the value of home owners property and resale possibilities.
It's a matter of whether neighborhoods have a "sense of community"
I support community clean-up projects through awareness programs, public opinion campaigns which point out area of problems naming guilty parties, legislative action regarding fire insurance.
- Annexation laws have been at issue across the state. The Putnam County Commission became involved in a dispute with the City of Hurricane concerning the issue in 2007. Do you believe annexation laws need to be changed? If so, do they need to be loosened in favor of city governments?
- Annexation laws do not need to be changed.
Annexation can be positive if it causes areas to receive needed services and benefits. However, annexation must be done only with a clear knowledge of what the results will be and how it will effect the people who live there.
- Zoning became an issue when eastern Cabell County residents fought the construction of a no-kill animal shelter along Wire Branch Road in Ona. Do you support passage of zoning laws in Cabell County?
- Zoning laws are a two-edged sword.
Property owners should have a vote in what affects them directly.
Zoning laws can protect property values, but if you own something it should be under your control unless it violates the rights or laws of others.
Zoning can attract business and economy.
I would support zoning laws in Cabell County only when I was fully aware of the reasons and what affect it would produce after direct input from those affected.
