Candidates share views at Patriots forum
Candidates for Fayette County and Uniontown offices outlined their qualifications and goals in a debate sponsored by the Fayette Patriots in the East End United Community Center in Uniontown on Thursday.
Fayette County commissioner candidates Vince Zapotosky, the Democratic chairman of the board of commissioners, Republican incumbent Angela Zimmerlink, Democratic challenger Al Ambrosini and Republican challenger Dave Lohr took part in the forum.
Fayette County district attorney candidates Jack Heneks Jr., the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger John Cupp Jr. and Uniontown mayoral candidates Ed Fike, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican challenger Russ Rhodes participated in the discussion.
Lohr, who is making his fourth run at the commissioners’ office, said he supports the Marcellus shale gas industry because of the good pyaing jobs it provides and and believes county government to be “business friendly” to the industry.
“We are sitting in the middle of God’s blessing,” Lohr said about the gas field that lies under the county.
Zimmerlink said she has a proven record of administering county operations, taking care of county property, promoting the county and facilitating economic developemnt.
She said government should serve taxpayers and take only as much tax money as is necessary.
She said a Marcellus spin-off business that recently opened in a business park took advantage of a Keystone Opportunity Zone tax break, but she wondered about the future of the business after the tax break expires.
Zapotosky said the county’s infrastructure was not sufficient to attract new businesses after the coal and coke industry faded, but the infrastructure has been improved in recent years and businesses are beginning to move in.
Although there are no term limits for county commissioners, Zapotosky said his next term would be his last if he wins the election.
He said incentives are needed to attract businesses in a competitive global economy. Education and training that targets the needs of businesses is needed, he said.
Regulations in the state Municipal Planning Code, Zapotosky said, might prevent some businesses from moving to the county, but county government is stopping business development.
Ambrosini, who is running for office for the first time, said the management experience he gained during the 30 years he worked for Allegheny Power and small businesses he was involved in make him the ideal candidate.
“During my career, I’ve learned to solve very complex problems,” Ambrosini said.
Industry has to be brought back to the county to counter high unemployment and population loss.
“We really have to reindustrialize Fayette County,” Ambrosini said.
He said the county must take advantage of its energy infrastructure to attract businesses. He said there are several 500-volt power lines and three large natural gas pipelines running through the county.
Cupp said he has handled criminal cases in 12 Pennsylvania counties as well as in West Virginia and argued three cases before the state Supreme Court during his 30-year career as an attorney.
He said he would bring a fresh approach to the district attorney’s office.
Heneks said he was the child abuse prosecutor before he began serving as district attorney since January 2010 and has worked in the office since 1996.
He said he formed coalition of law enforcement, medical professionals and victims advocates to help prosecute child abuse suspects.
He said he prosecuted hundreds of child abuse cases and the office, which will handle 3,000 cases this year, has a conviction rate of more than 70 percent since he has been in charge.
Rhodes said he would use marketing to attract businesses to the city and create a website to provide residents and prospective businesses with city information, City Council meeting agendas, permit applications and budget information.
He said 6 percent of all property in the city is tax exempt and that property accounts for 25 percent of the assessed value of property in the city. He said he would pursue payments in lieu of taxes from the owners of tax exempt properties.
Rhodes said the crime rate in the city is 92 percent higher than the rest of the state and the chances of a person becoming a victim of crime in the city is one in 25.
Fike said the city had a $1.6 million deficit and only $15,000 in the bank to pay the $92,000 payroll when he took office in 2008, but he restored the finances.
He said he used grant money and donations to replace the police cars, which had duct tape holding the windows in place when he took office, with new cars.
“I dare anyone to challenge my platform,” Fike said.