County Democratic leaders have failed us
We don’t believe anyone was surprised by the 2010 census results featured in the March 11 Herald-Standard. However, the reaction by two of our county commissioners is surprising.
The recent census is yet another example of how the Democratic Party has let the citizens of Fayette County down. Over the last 40 years, the county, at both state and local levels, has been represented primarily by Democrats. Promises have been made, from moving “Fayette Forward,” to “the congressman who delivers.” Many have promised to improve the job situation, improve the education of our youth, and the like. Every time, after repeated failures, we are told that they know the solution and can solve Fayette County’s ills.
We believe both our Democratic commissioners Vince Vicites and Vince Zapotosky have good intentions. However, in private industry, results matter, not just good intentions. The public sector should be no different.
Zapotosky states we “need to admit that we need to do something.” We are surprised that our current chairman of the commission needed a census to “admit” that there is a problem. For years, young residents have been leaving Fayette County in droves to find employment elsewhere. The solution is not to “try to find ways to make Fayette County a better place to live” as suggested by Zapotosky.
Fayette County already has many assets that make it a great place to live, but even paradise would have a hard time retaining its population if there were no jobs available. Vicites says that “we just have to keep trying to move this county ahead, and hopefully in the next decade, we’ll have an increase in population.” This is pretty weak from a sitting commissioner finishing his sixteenth year in office.
The problem with Fayette County is lack of local employment that pays a living wage. Month after month, year after year, Fayette County sits at or near the bottom of employment figures for Pennsylvania. Our commissioners and state leaders should be doing everything in their power to attract new employers to Fayette County. Whether through tax policy, streamlining permits/regulatory hurdles or working to ensure education in Fayette County, our main emphasis should be on new jobs for the hardworking citizens of Fayette County.
Ironically, two days later, the Herald-Standard featured an article on the Marcellus shale gas drilling, where Fayette County was described as lagging behind surrounding counties in Marcellus drilling. For example, in 2010, Greene County had more than four times the number of wells drilled in Fayette County. Why isn’t cultivating this industry a priority for our elected officials? Our leaders should be focused on continued job growth to attract and retain younger residents so that they do not move to another county or state.
Trying is nice, but when leaders continually “try” without producing results, the people need to demand new leadership. Years of Democratic control have produced population decline, poverty and lack of jobs. It’s time for a change in leadership. Pay attention to the issues not just catchy campaign slogans.
Mike Hosier is the chairman of the Fayette County Republican Party, and Russ Rhodes is the vice chairman of the Fayette County Republican Party.