For the second time in almost three weeks, the dozen candidates running for Mercer County commissioner were brought together Thursday.

Republicans Mary Buckwalter, Thomas Allen Dill, Glenn C. Dosch, Tom Limber Jr., Joe Phillips, George Pokrant, Michele Brooks and Bruce A. Richael, and Democrats Brian Beader, incumbent Olivia M. Lazor, Richard P. "Dick" McMahon and James T. Kaibas were on hand for the Mercer County Commissioner Candidate Forum at Grove City College.

Questions were drawn up by event organizer Michael Coulter, an associate professor of political science. Sponsors for the forum, which drew nearly 150 people, were the school's political science program and the political science honorary.

Each candidate had 3 minutes for opening statements and 1è minutes for each of two questions. The first asked whether the candidate would support raising property taxes to balance the budget, like the county has done the last two years. And if not, what would the candidate do in order to control the rising cost of county government?

Answers ranged from an emphatic no to maybe to yes if it was necessary, but it was Limber perhaps who best represented the sentiment of the candidates.

"I don't think any public official goes into office wanting to raise taxes," Limber said. "It's a very difficult call as to whether you're ever going to have to do that as a leader."

Pokrant was emphatic that the county cannot continue to raise taxes.

"We can't go to our employer when our expenses are too high and tell them to give us a raise," he said.

Mrs. Brooks said she would be committed to keeping taxes as low as possible without putting the county in debt.

"If my back is against the wall and at a point where we have to lay off employees, then yes I would raise taxes," Phillips added.

"You can carve this in stone, I will not raise taxes," Dosch said. "I disagree with the entire thought of property tax because it puts the burden of the county on the backs of the county's property owners."

The second question asked the candidates what county government can do to promote economic development and what specifically the candidate would do to promote economic development.

Common themes among most of the commissioner hopefuls were development of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sewage and water, and focusing that infrastructure development along the Interstate 79 and 80 corridors.

"We have to try to push infrastructure development in those areas," Beader said. "We need shovel-ready areas for businesses looking to relocate."

Mrs. Lazor emphasized the need to raise funds for sewer and water infrastructure.

"That will meet the needs and that's when business will come," she said.

Another common thread, including Richael's, was the emphasis on the need to do things as a team in the county.

"We need to unify industrial development corporations and work as one team, a Mercer County team," Kaibas said. "If each corporation works by itself, that's not going to get the job done."

Dill agreed.

"We need to bring all of the agencies of the county together and work out a plan to promote the county," he said.

Ms. Buckwalter went a step further, emphasizing the importance of bringing in industry that's "going to complement what we have now and not take away jobs from other business that are already here."

McMahon added that the county should pay more attention to attracting industrial and not retail businesses.

"Retail doesn't create economic development, it's a result of economic development," he said.

As for what voters could take away from the forum, Coulter said, "I'd want to see a candidate who clearly understands county government and can list a few clear, simple things he or she wants to do. I don't expect voters to know the intricacies of how Children and Youth is funded, but you can get an impression of the candidates."

Armstrong Cable, which serves the Grove City and Mercer areas, taped the event for later broadcasts.

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