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Fayette Patriots hold public candidate forum

By Mike Tony mtony@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Several candidates for Fayette County offices fielded questions submitted by the public during a recent forum hosted by the Fayette Patriots.

Three commissioner candidates — Republican incumbent Angela M. Zimmerlink, Dr. Evelyn Hovanec, a Republican, and Democrat Vincent Vicites — attended to answer questions and share their backgrounds and reasons for running. Republican candidates Pat Lion and Dave Lohr did not attend, nor did incumbent Democrat Al Ambrosini.

Vicites, a former commissioner who lost in the primary four years ago, said he wanted to get back on the board because he feels he can bring economic development to the county by being fiscally responsible with the budget, and will work to solve the problem of what do with the aging county prison.

Hovanec, whose background includes four decades of teaching and administrating on the college level, said her experience on several local committees would help her take the county in a new direction.

Zimmerlink, who has served for three terms, said she has been part of many initiatives since taking office, including refinancing county bonds twice to save money, putting money into the Fayette County Election Bureau to achieve what she called a “much needed” voter purge, updating zoning ordinances and set up allocations for money from Lady Luck Casino at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.

The three candidates were asked to identify three problems the county faces.

Zimmerlink said the number one problem in the county is apathy, and that the number two problem is citizens not knowing who their elected officials are. Vicites said the county needs more jobs and more people voting. Hovanec said the reason for apathy in county government is that citizens don’t feel “properly invited” to become a part of government, referencing the battle over the future of a new county prison as a turnoff for local voters. Zimmerlink later argued that it is not the commissioners’ responsibility to ask people to get involved.

“That invitation came in 1776,” Zimmerlink said. “I shouldn’t have to ask you.”

Many of the submitted questions for county commissioner candidates focused on issues important to the audience, including the place of God in government, interpretations of the Second Amendment and abortion. All three candidates expressed support of the Second Amendment and declared themselves pro-life with little disagreement and the majority of attendees applauding each answer.

Some candidates seeking office for district attorney, sheriff, coroner, controller and magisterial district judge also attended the forum.

Moderator Gary Colatch and David Show, the county’s Republican party chairman, told the audience repeatedly throughout the evening to remember on May 19 — primary election day — who did and did not show up to answer questions at the forum.

“I can’t think of an offense worse than somebody not willing to face the electorate and explain things,” said Show, co-founder of the Fayette Patriots.

All candidates from both parties running for office in this month’s primary election were invited to attend. Those who came were afforded two minutes to respond to the questions that were posed.

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