Commissioner Contestants Express Visions for County
Candidates' Night at Kenston High School Oct. 16 started with a tense exchange between U. S. Congressman David Joyce (OH-14) and Betsy Rader (D-Russell Township), his opponent in a race that has often captured national media attention.
Candidates’ Night at Kenston High School Oct. 16 started with a tense exchange between U. S. Congressman David Joyce (OH-14) and Betsy Rader (D-Russell Township), his opponent in a race that has often captured national media attention.
The rules of the forum were outlined before candidates spoke – candidates were only to speak about themselves and not make any comment about their opposition. After Joyce replied to a question about global climate change by noting he is one of the few Republicans at the bipartisan climate caucus solutions group, and the U.S. has not shared technology that would allow for cleaner burning of coal with countries like China and India, Rader launched an attack against his record.
“There have been so many proposed pieces of legislation in Congress that would address these issues that Mr. Joyce has voted against,” Rader said. “He has a 7 percent lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters, and there’s actually a YouTube video you can find online where he actually promoted the shipping of coal to India and China, because they don’t require scrubbers there.”
Joyce repeatedly interjected with advice to talk only about her own positions, but Rader continued to hammer his voting record.
When the pair were then asked for their feelings on holding constituent town halls, Joyce testily deferred to Rader, telling her to go ahead since she had “all the answers.”
The two continued to spar, especially over recent campaign ads both feel misrepresent their positions.
Joyce did criticize members of the Democratic Party in terms familiar to political junkies – including assertions that President Barack Obama lied about aspects of the Affordable Care Act – but he also criticized the GOP for failing to take responsibility for dysfunction in D.C.
“I don’t understand why we can’t have hearings. We don’t work hard enough in D.C.,” Joyce said. “If I was the speaker, we’d change the whole program.”
“That was an answer that was spoken as if it was made by somebody who hasn’t been in Congress in the majority for the past six years,” Rader shot back.
Where the two agreed was on the need for lower health care and prescription drug costs, and preserving the environment and mitigating the effects of global climate change.
In the race for the 76thdistrict seat in the Ohio General Assembly, John Kennedy (D-Aurora) came out swinging against rising drug costs, using his own medical history to illuminate the issue.
“I’m a type one diabetic,” Kennedy told the crowd. “And a few weeks ago, I literally ran from my house in Aurora 142 miles.”
Kennedy said he started running on a Friday morning and ran the rest of that day and overnight without stopping to sleep until he reached the Statehouse in Columbus at 10 p.m. Saturday.
“And why in the world did I do such a thing? Well, I did that to raise awareness of the high cost of prescription drugs,” Kennedy said.
He showed the audience a vial of insulin and said 30 years ago, it cost between $30 and $40, but now it costs around $300.
“It’s not right,” Kennedy said. “They haven’t improved insulin, folks, in the last 34 years. So it’s all about greed, that’s what it is.”
Kennedy vowed to pass drug price transparency legislation similar to what is in other states that would force pharmaceutical companies to publicly release their profits to show the public the true cost of their medications.
Kennedy’s opponent, incumbent Sarah LaTourette (R-Chester Township) did not appear at the candidates’ forum.
All three candidates for Geauga County Commissioner – Republican Jim Dvorak, Democrat Anita Blue Marlowe and Libertarian Candace Loyd – were present at the forum.
In her opening statement, Loyd said if elected, she would lower the county property taxes by reducing county budgets over the course of four years. Loyd also decried state and federal mandates that affect Geauga residents.
“These mandates will require the county and individual residents to come up with funding for state controlled projects in unrealistic timelines,” Loyd said. “State mandates divide control between local and state government, leaving neither accountable for the results. Ending state mandates will return control to our local communities.”
Marlowe expressed a desire to increase economic development in the county, with an emphasis on high-tech development to preserve Geauga’s environmental resources. She also stated any new jobs should be full-time with livable wages.
“Our land cost is less here than in Cuyahoga. Our property tax comparatively is lower,” Marlowe said. “There are many reasons that this area is attractive to businesses.”
Dvorak also highlighted employment-oriented economic growth as a goal.
“There’s tax abatements available or reverse loans,” Dvorak said. “If it makes sense, if it creates jobs, then we’ll sit around the table and talk about it. Anything to improve jobs in Geauga County.”
When questioned on news the Geauga County Maple Leaf broke last week about misallocated gas tax funds, all three agreed the county should not seek to recapture those funds from municipalities.
