Libertarian candidate for state representative David Macko not only wants to abolish taxes along with the "police state,"he also wants to impeach the president of…
Libertarian candidate for state representative David Macko not only wants to abolish taxes along with the “police state,”he also wants to impeach the president of the United States.
During an Oct. 6 candidates night at West Geauga High School, Macko– who is seeking Dave Joyce’s 14th U.S. House of Representatives seat — said he would like to do away with entities like the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security and also advocates impeaching President Barack Obama.
When asked his stance on abortion and providing contraceptives for women, Macko said he disagrees with his libertarian party and is pro-life. He said the decision should go back to the states, which he said would each vote to abolish abortion.
“Women should be able to buy contraceptives with their own money, not the taxpayers’ money.”
About 40 residents attended the event, which was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Geauga County.
John Patterson, the current state representative in the 99th District said while he is “a person of faith … that has nothing to do with public policy. Women should have access to fair and safe contraceptives.”
Patterson, a former school teacher is running for re-election on the Dem-ocratic ticket representing residents in Ashtabula and Geauga counties. He said he has broken through some of the bipartisanism in the State House.
“I have to work with everyone to get anything done,” he said.
He cited the state’s debt forgiveness for Ledgemont Schools, and legislation to educate the public on Lyme disease as areas he has successfully addressed.
“I co-sponsored HB-17 to restore state funding to local governments, but that bill has gone nowhere,” he said. “A lot of townships and municipalities took a hit and are having to add extra police and fire levies.”
Patterson cited a 300-percent hike in CAUV taxes to farmers, maple syrup producers and owners of woodland properties along with recent law changes in septic systems as local issues needing to be addressed in the state legislature.
His Republican opponent, Nancy McArthur, is the current vice mayor of Chardon. She said she is endorsed by the Lake and Geauga Association of Realtors, an area association of certified public accountants, a chiropractic association and by a Right to Life group.
“When I get to Columbus, I want to address crime, drug problems and economic development,” she said.
“In general, I am against raising taxes,” she said. “I work in local government and have had to deal with state cuts. We took a hit after the deficit in the state budget, but I don’t think it’s a problem. ”
McArthur indicated she may support raising taxes on the oil and gas industry to repair damaged infrastructure and for clean-up and monitoring.
As a union plumber for 50 years, Joe Lanese, running for the 76th state representative seat said he is “the real Joe the Plumber.”
He stated his modest campaign is beholding to no one and he will represent “just you the people.” He would like to remove special interest groups from politics and return to “the way government used to be.”
Michael Wager, a Democrat, running for the 14th U.S. House of Repre-sentatives seat, commented that his race is the only competitive house race because gerrymandering, moving the district boundaries, has defined the other districts based on the political stances of the population.
Wager said if elected, he will represent the interests of the people in the seven counties that make up the district. He cited the stagnated economy as his priority.
“We’ve allowed jobs to leave the country,” he said. “In return, we got cheap goods and a very different economy here.”
He lamented his Republican opponent, Joyce, who currently holds the house seat, did not attend the event.
“You should ask hard questions of Joyce,” he said. “You should also ask hard questions of me.”
Wager, a small businessman, said he employs hundreds of people and supports a minimum wage increase.
“If minimum wage was $1.60 an hour in 1968, with inflation today it should now be more than $7.60 per hour, but it’s not,” he explained.
Calling himself “the most engaged and most prepared candidate” for Geauga County commissioner, Walter “Skip” Claypool said he attends most county and township meetings.
Running on the Republican ticket, he advocates taking out the “Ds and Rs” and having both parties “work together to solve the drug problem.”
He cited gasoline taxes as a problem.
“We pay $26 million in gasoline taxes and only get back $6 million,” he said.
He suggested outsourcing and changing work schedules of county employees to gain efficiencies.
Democratic county commissioner candidate Ron Wiech vowed to “be a voice for Geauga County.”
Wiech is a five-year member of the Middlefield Village Council and has worked on that community’s economic development to “move Middlefield forward.”
“I sat on the (county) Drug Task Force and I respect seniors,” he added. “I’ve also been a volunteer at the Geauga (County) Safety Center.”
Wiech said balancing the county budget was the highest priority and he planned to visit every department and meet with employees for input.
“We’ve got great schools and parks,” he said.
When asked his view on bylaw changes within the Geauga Park District, Wiech said, “The rules are more wide open now to allow anything that’s legal in Ohio law. Let the residents decide in a survey.”
“The parks are not a department of the county commissioners,” Claypool said. “I don’t sit on the board. I don’t understand them. I accept the changes. The changes were in the best interest of the residents.”
Blake Rear, who has served one year as a county commissioner, said he is the most qualified candidate for the position.
“My only job is as county commissioner,” he commented. “I am not in favor of the changes to the GPD bylaws. They were done without public input. That is not the way to do this. I requested the evening commissioners meetings for the public to attend.”
He said he has overseen changes for more efficiencies while using fewer services.
He also said he is a strong supporter of law enforcement. He would “like to see that law enforcement has the tools needed to do the job,” but wants to “see some measurement in success.”
Other candidates, including Ohio Supreme Court justices Judi French and Sharon Kennedy, spoke along with Ron Tamburrino, who is running for the 11th District Court of Appeals. County Auditor Frank Gliha and Tom Letson, candidate for Ohio Supreme Court, also addressed attendees.
