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Democrats present challenges to Republican incumbents. All stress financial problems
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Monday, Oct 06, 2008
MEDINA: A Wadsworth councilman and a political newcomer hope to defeat two longtime Medina County commissioners on Nov. 4.
Democrat John J. Sharkey, 60, of Wadsworth, is challenging Republican Steven Hambley, 54, of Brunswick.
Sharkey was a Wadsworth firefighter-emergency medical technician and rescue diver for 20 years when he left the job to take a seat on Wadsworth City Council five years ago. Hambley is in his third term as a commissioner and serves as vice president.
Republican Patricia Geissman, 68, of Lodi, faces opposition in her bid for a fifth term from Democrat Brian T. Feron, 49, of Medina.
Feron is director of customer service for the Oatey Co. in Cleveland and has worked in business for more than 25 years. In 2001, he led the charge to keep open the Medina County Home after commissioners voted to close it.
All of the candidates agree that finances will be a challenge in the coming term.
Geissman, president of the board of commissioners, said the economy will get worse before it gets better. She said jobs and taxes are leading issues in the county.
''We have been hit hard by foreclosure,'' she said. ''When you have 856 foreclosures in what is considered a wealthy county, that's a crisis.''
Geissman said she has put together a committee of bankers, real-estate brokers, attorneys and others to look for solutions to the crisis. She said the majority of foreclosures in the county are the result of life-changing circumstances such as illness and job loss.
''We've identified local and state opportunities to help people,'' she said.
In 2002, Geissman formed a railroad safety task force to identify and improve — through federal, state and private grants — dangerous railroad crossings in the county. To date, six have been upgraded, three more will be upgraded this year, and funding has been approved, she said.
''I made it very clear that I would be visible, obtainable, listen to concerns and identify and rectify issues in the county,'' Geissman said. ''I plan to continue that commitment.''
During his tenure, Hambley has worked to secure funding for highway improvements, including the widening of Interstate 71 and improvements to state Route 18.
He said attracting businesses and good jobs and being able to provide the talent to fill those jobs are key to improving Medina County's economy.
''We need to find a way to continue investments despite economic downturns,'' Hambley said. ''To keep within the budget and still continue with our initiatives.''
Procuring Chippewa Lake as part of the county park system is a step in that direction, he said.
Hambley also supported a 0.5 percent sales tax that funds capital improvements for the county's schools, a tax Sharkey calls a ''quick fix.''
''They're trying to fix things by increasing taxes, which is a fast fix,'' Sharkey said. ''We need to look at other ways to raise money for the county.''
Sharkey suggested the county take over the recycling center and install and run a broadband cable system to increase revenue.
Hambley said the sales tax is saving money for property owners by keeping some levies off the ballot.
''In Wadsworth, they eliminated a property tax levy they were preparing to put on the ballot for capital improvements,'' Hambley said.
He said taking over the recycling plant wouldn't help the county's general fund. The recycle plant is a utility, and savings are passed to consumers, not the county's general fund, Hambley said.
Feron sees regionalizing as a way to save money in the county. He said better communication between county government and the cities could help.
The commissioners have joined with some of the townships and villages to combine services, but Feron said the cities should be included.
''We really need to communicate more with Wadsworth, Brunswick and Medina,'' Feron said. ''They don't talk as often as they should about reduced cost and combining resources.''
Feron said that as commissioner, he would like to leave the environment in better shape for future generations. He has been studying sustainable developments and businesses and would work to develop green zones, with businesses investing in eco-friendly, energy-efficient buildings.
''Having an advocate of sustainablity and improved use of natural resources will leave our county better in the future,'' Feron said.
County commissioners serve four-year terms.
MEDINA: A Wadsworth councilman and a political newcomer hope to defeat two longtime Medina County commissioners on Nov. 4.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Sterling, Oh
Posted 02:23 PM, 10/06/2008
Commissioner’s spending money derived from citizen’s wages or independent business profit. To pay for the more stock dividends (money) OPEC nations and Enron stockholders, Investors and stockholders in the Illegal Drug Business, Business owners stockholders, Financial Institutions investors and stockholders, Bulls on Wall Street, Hillarys, Wal-Mart stockholders, and foreign and domestic investors (money marketers) market quarterly. In the wholesale and retail price of every product and service needed to build and maintain infrastructure, provide government services and national security, and Human Beings use for life. That gets only product or service. To measure and maintain the strength and growth of this unaffordable economy and prove that only money that can only be used to identify agreed value of sellers and buyers in the marketplace has value? Makes life in Medina County, the state of Ohio, the USA, and the Real World, UNAFFORDABLE!
