Political newcomers in race (10/11/04)

A couple of political novices are vying for the North District seat on the Jay County Commissioners.

Republican Faron D. Parr and Democrat Jason E. Davidson will be squaring off in the Nov. 2 election.

Parr, 40, is owner and operator of Progressive Office Products, Portland, and owner of Advanced Seal Technology in the Industrial Park in Bryant.

Davidson, 29, is a sixth-generation farmer in northeast Jay County and is owner of Jason Davidson Farms and Excavating. He’s also an equipment operator for his parents’ business, Davidson Excavating.

A resident of 117 East 500 North, Bryant, with his wife Diane, Parr is the father of four daughters. A 1982 graduate of Jay County High School, he serves on the boards of the Jay Community Center, the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Community Corrections, the Portland Economic Development Corporation and Bryant Industrial Development. He is a member of the Portland Rotary Club and the Portland Morning Optimist Club. For several years, he has chaired the Parade of Lights and the Bloomfield Elementary School chili supper. He attends Bryant Wesleyan Church.

Davidson and his wife Sarah reside at 5183 North 450 East, Portland. A 1993 graduate of Jay County High School, he studied automotive technology at Northwestern College in Lima, Ohio, and is an ASE certified master technician for medium and heavy duty trucks. A member of St. Peter Catholic Church, he is vice president and young farmer representative on the Jay County Farm Bureau board. He’s also a member of National Write Your Congressman.

For both candidates, this run for commissioner is a first bid for public office.

The Commercial Review asked both candidates a series of questions on the upcoming election. Their answers follow.

Why are you running for county commissioner? What makes you qualified for the position?

Davidson: My family has been here for six generations, and I want to make sure the quality of life is secure in Jay County for future generations. I feel the younger generation should be represented in the government to balance the experience brought to the table by the present commissioners.

I understand the importance of good drainage. I realize the need for proper maintenance to protect the county’s investment in equipment. I have practical experience in receiving and submitting bids. I am an active participant in the voting process.

Parr: I am a life-long resident of Jay County. I have four children who are being educated here. I own a home and two businesses in Jay County. My wife works in Jay County. All this means that I have a vested interest in the well being of Jay County’s future.

My background and training is in technology and communications. With two businesses to manage, along with the usual family commitments of taking kids to sports practice and other activities, I have still found time to be an involved citizen by participating in numerous community functions.

Operating my businesses, as well as my long-term involvement in the community, has allowed me to get to know most of Jay County’s leadership and the issues facing the county.

For all the above, I do have a vested interest in Jay County’s future. My experience as a successful business owner, my background in field of technology (which is one of the big issues facing Jay County right now), as well as my grass-roots knowledge of the whole county, makes me a qualified candidate. I know both (commissioners) Milo (Miller) and Gary (Theurer) very well, and I believe that we will make a great team for Jay County government.

What do you believe to be the most pressing issue before the commissioners now? What is your position on that issue?

Davidson: I feel the debate on the regulations of the confined feeding operations (CFOs) is the most pressing issue right now. I feel the state regulations are sufficient for the building and operation of the CFOs. I also think that if there have been problems, the officials on the local level should be checking the buildings to make sure they are being built according to the county zoning regulations which are the same as the state regulations. The livestock industry is one of the largest property tax incomes for the county, and I do not believe their expansion should be limited.

Parr: The commissioners have a number of issues before them right now that deserve comment, but building and maintaining a secure economy in Jay County must always be foremost in our minds. I will work with such offices as Community and Economic Development and will use them in as many ways as possible. Although we have historically focused on bringing in manufacturing jobs, I believe there are additional areas that we cannot overlook, such as agri-business and tourism. I think that what the city of Portland and Glynn and Julie Barber are doing with the sports park project is a good example of recognizing and adapting to the future needs of Portland and Jay County. I will encourage this type of business diversity. The creation of good paying jobs and generating local spending has to be a priority.

Reducing county expenses, especially where there is no return on investment, is another part of maintaining that secure economy. Costs must be kept under close watch. The county health insurance is another example of an expense that continues to rise. County employees deserve a decent health insurance policy at a reasonable price.

County roads and our environmental concerns, such as the landfill and confined feeding operations, continue to be hot issues. I have no predetermined action here. I will look closely at these issues and apply “common sense solutions.” Another issue currently being addressed is the acquisition of broad band communications. As this rolls out over the next couple of years, I will keep a guarded eye on the progress.

What is your opinion of the work of the local committee currently studying confined feeding operations in Jay County? What, if any, changes do you feel are needed to the current county regulations governing these operations?

Davidson: I appreciate the work the local committee has been doing to study the issue. I am glad they are taking their time to look into the facts and aren’t rushing into any decisions based on opinions.

As stated earlier, I feel the regulations are sufficient. Property rights are just as important as other individual rights. The manure may be here with or without the buildings. The buildings along with the incomes and property taxes may be built in other counties, and the manure may still be applied in Jay County by out of county property owners that have these facilities.

Parr: I respect the right of every individual to make a decent living, including a business in confined feeding, but because confined feeding operations can have a disastrous effect on the environment, we must be careful. We must make sure that the waste products are properly managed and that all laws and regulations are followed. We cannot allow over-saturation. Jay County should not be used as a dumping ground for manure produced in Ohio and neighboring counties.

The building purchased for use in a possible expansion of the Jay County Jail is partially vacant. How would you like to see the available space used?

Davidson: If renters cannot be found to pay for the upkeep of the building, demolish the building and use the space for courthouse employee parking until expansion of the jail is necessary.

Parr: Obviously, I would like to see the building used to generate funds for the county, if possible. If that isn’t possible, then perhaps it could be used temporarily to alleviate some office overcrowding or provide office space where the county is paying to rent elsewhere. Currently, the Community Corrections staff is in cramped quarters in the courthouse. It might be appropriate to consider providing them the space.

Since the ultimate use will apparently be for jail expansion, I would not support putting any significant money into renovating the building for a temporary purpose.

Do you feel that expansion of the county jail is an urgent need? What would be the deciding factor to move ahead with the expansion?

Davidson: No. I feel the deciding factor would be if the state mandates expansion.

Parr: I’m not sure that the expansion is an “urgent” need. There are many counties across this state in worse shape, with jail overcrowding and facilities that are below jail standards. However, that doesn’t mean that expansion is a bad idea. I doubt that it is going to get less expensive to expand in the future, or that jail regulations are going to be relaxed. If we anticipate a need for expansion, now may be the time.

The Department of Correction houses hundred of inmates in county jails — a practice that doesn’t appear to be changing soon. Those county jails, including ours, can generate significant income by providing beds for those inmates. I plan to look closely at the projected costs of expansion, as well as the projected revenues and savings that can be realized, and make a sound decision based on that information.

What revisions, if any, would you make to the county’s current use of Economic Development Income Tax funds?

Davidson: This seems to be working at the present; if a problem or concern is brought to my attention I would be open to making suggestions.

Parr: I will remain open to consider any proposal. I believe the current Capitol Improvement Plans are flexible enough to accommodate most needs and I think that, for the most part, Jay County’s EDIT funds have been used appropriately and that our multi-year appropriations give us an edge over some other counties. I am not opposed to using EDIT to develop business and jobs other than manufacturing, so long as we are actually generating new jobs and local spending.

If there is one thing you want to make sure the voters know about you of the office you are seeking, what would that be?

Davidson: I am not doing this to seek any personal gains or gains for any third party. I am doing this to help make Jay County a better and fair place to live.

Parr: I am going to support projects that provide a good return on the county’s investment. The John Jay Center for Learning, the offices of Jay County Development, and the Jay County Community Development are examples. I will earnestly seek to find the right solutions to such escalating costs. I will take this position very seriously. I will remain available to you. I will always seek to use “good commonsense.”[[In-content Ad]]