Published Friday, April 16, 1999 But none of them have a solid solution to recommend.
The race for two Republican and two Democrat nominations in the May 18 primary election has attracted three Republicans and six Democrats. The field became crowded after Commissioner Richard R. Stevenson, a Republican, opted not to seek a second term.
Republican hopefuls are Lee S. Wishing, 37, director of external relations at Grove City College; Brian W. Shipley, 28, Greenville, legislative aide to state Sen. Robert D. Robbins; and Commissioner Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman, 65, South Pymatuning Township.
Democrats in the race are Kenneth R. Ammann, 51, Hempfield Township, an electrician at Trinity Industries -- Greenville Rail Car Division; Sharpsville police Chief Willard A. Thompson, 50; Rev. Martha Sanders, 60, Farrell, pastor of Hour of Power Tabernacle; Farrell Mayor Eugene C. Pacsi, 52; South Pymatuning Township Supervisor Michael Nashtock, 37; and Commissioner Olivia M. Lazor, South Pymatuning Township.
The county's finances -- tied to any decision on whether to expand the current jail, build a new one or do nothing -- are another frequent topic among candidates.
For the past decade the Mercer County Prison Board, which includes all three county commissioners, has been wrestling with the need for more jail space and the cost of housing excess county prisoners in other counties.
"It's troubling to me that through several administrations the county has wrestled with this (jail) issue and refused to make a decision," Shipley said.
"We have to have a facility for our judiciary, our police who catch the bad guys, and the DA who does an excellent job to put them away in. If I can influence this in any way, I want to see it resolved in my first term. It has dragged on entirely too long," Shipley said.
Pacsi also promised quick action.
"Studies have been done enough. I will sit down with the people who have done the studies and review everything, and make a decision. We cannot afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to other jails so they (inmates) can be housed," he said.
Although she did not choose between remodeling and building a new jail. Rev. Sanders suggested privately run community corrections alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders.
Nashtock was concerned about paying for jail improvements. "If studies say we need a new jail, we should find a way to fund it and construct it. I'm not for increasing taxes to do that," Nashtock said.
The expense of housing inmates in other counties concerns Ammann.
"If those costs continue to rise in the next few years, we could have a new jail in for less than what it costs to house prisoners elsewhere," Ammann said.
Wishing also had no firm stand on the jail problem, but said the solution should be tied to bringing the growth of services in line with their costs.
Brenneman, the incumbent chairman of the prison board, said a solution to the jail problem can be expected in the next two or three years.
Instead of dwelling on the jail problem, Mrs. Lazor is setting her sights on creating programs to prevent and intervene with social and developmental problems at an early age. "We can work with communities, schools, churches, and service groups to come up with resources," she said.
The costs of prevention and intervention actually can turn into a savings, Mrs. Lazor said.
Also not bringing up the jail problem, Thompson said he wants to see "a hold on taxes ... We need to bring programs within the budget," he said.
Brenneman said the county has been watching expenses and budget on a weekly basis and tracking the receipts of grants. That process should be fine-tuned, he said.
"The growing needs for services should be balanced against the growing need for money," Shipley said.
Because of its overwhelming caseload, Children and Youth Services' "costs have risen to the point that they are running 10 percent to 14 percent of the budget," Wishing said. The county needs to work with the state to get its reimbursements on a timely basis, he said.
Ammann noted commissioners annually ask Mercer County Common Pleas Court judges for permission to exceed the state mandated 25-mill ceiling for property taxes. He recommended tax reform as well as tax breaks for senior citizens and said the county needs to help attract and keep good paying jobs.
