Candidates visit Camp Sherman

Candidates for the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners expressed their views on a range of issues in Camp Sherman.

The four Jefferson County commissioner candidates visited Camp Sherman's Community Hall last Thursday evening, October 10, to present themselves to a small but interested group of residents.

Realtor and former small business owner Mike Ahern squares off against challenger Mary Zemke, a medical transcriptionist. He is chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners and the only incumbent running this year.

The other commission race is between Mike Goss, an insurance agent, and farmer Walter Ponsford, vying for the seat being vacated by Commissioner Janet Brown.

Moderator Toni Foster opened the political evening with candidate introductions.

This was followed by questions shaped by the moderator and answered by each candidate. The PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) shortfall and what each would do to solve the crisis got a surprisingly candid response from Mike Ahern.

"I'd declare bankruptcy and throw it into the courts," he said. "The system is not sustainable."

His opponent, Zemke, said, "We made promises and should uphold our promises to teachers and other PERS workers. However, we need to make corrections in the system."

Ponsford responded to the PERS question, noting that "We were mesmerized by the stock market of the '90s. We now need sound, basic conservative views on what we can sustain."

Goss followed by saying, "People may have to work longer. We've got to get younger people working (creating jobs) and putting more money into the PERS fund. Some changes will also have to be made."

Another question focused on growing the Jefferson County tax base.

"Growth in the tax base must be compatible with what citizens want," said Zemke.

"We should strive for jobs with good wages in light industry and the high-tech sector."

Ponsford said, "Production is the only good remedy."

Ahern and Goss favored new businesses and more housing for the area.

"Not all the news is bad," said Ahern. "Non-farm money doubled in Jefferson County in the '90s."

Each candidate was then given the opportunity to ask one question of another candidate. Responding to a question on his support of a Cogentrix energy plant, Ahern said,

"This would have been a great addition to our tax base -- particularly since we're lowering our hydropower tax base."

Before the meeting, Zemke said, "Cogentrix is dead in Jefferson County."

Asked by his opponent how they differed, Goss said, "I'm more aggressive than Walt (Ponsford) and would bring more new business into Jefferson County."

Finally, questions were fielded from the audience. Apparently still rankling some local residents is the increase in the county room tax from 6 to 9 percent.

Earlier in the year County Commissioners at a Camp Sherman community meeting had said they favored doing this to raise money for a new community center in Madras.

At that time, they said such an increase would not have to be voted on by county residents.

Later, it was determined such an increase would have to be voted on countywide and the issue has remained moribund since then.

Several people raised concerns about road quality conditions. All of the candidates felt that something had to be done.

"Jefferson County has 190 miles of paved roads," said Ahern. "We're $800,000 short for road repairs."

"We've got to face the facts that our roads need attention," said Ponsford.

"It's costly on tires, shocks and repairs to continue driving on poor roads."

Zemke concurred.

"Roads are the second greatest concern in the county," she said.