City Mayoral Candidates Baney, Conklin Debate
LOCK HAVEN – Democrat Bill Baney and Republican Rick Conklin, candidates for Lock Haven Mayor in the Nov. 3 election, offered similar views at a Tuesday night candidates night appearance at the Lock Haven Elks Lodge.
Baney and Conklin, both veteran city council members, presented their case for city votes at the “candidate debate” presented by the Lock Haven Express.
Asked about priorities, Conklin called for an improved relationship with Lock Haven University, a formalized street paving plan and adequate resources for the police department. He said he would like to see Clinton County lose its ranking as number one in the state for alcohol consumption, as per a recent social media posting. Baney lamented the city’s high real estate tax rate, but said options to address the problem are limited. He noted the local drug and alcohol problem and expressed concern that serious crime related to that problem could be increasingly working its way towards the city.
Both expressed concern about city development of the old PennDOT maintenance garage in the city’s hill district. Conklin, who had voted against that acquisition, noted plans to renovate the site are “finally moving along.” Baney said it may be next spring at the earliest that improvements might occur there. He said the city wants to sell its current maintenance facility on Walnut Street but expressed concern that even a $300,000 sale price would not go far in upgrading the former PennDOT site.
Asked if there is a need for a fulltime mayor, Conklin said city operations function well with the current council-manager format but that “maybe” some thought should be given to a fulltime mayor. Baney said the current setup is fine, but said he would like to see an office at city hall for the mayor.
On the subject of parking, Baney called the current meter rates “a bargain,” indicating they should be raised. Conklin said business does not suffer under the current setup but said a flat rate should be considered for both on-street and off-street parking.
In their closing comments Conklin talked of city “pluses” in its water and sewer holdings and its airport, all assets he said in a town of 10,000, just two and-a-half square miles in size. He pledged to carry on the tradition of former mayor Rick Vilello who resigned earlier this year to accept a position with the Wolf administration in Harrisburg. Baney said he wanted to be a “promoter” for the city and pledged a $2,000 contribution towards a “mayor’s concert” as part of the city’s summer concert series if he is elected mayor next week.
