Commissioner Candidates Upbeat at Christian Coalition Forum

By Scott Johnson


LOCK HAVEN – Love of the county and its people, and the county’s positive future partnering with the Keystone Central School District, Lock Haven University and the Clinton County Economic Partnership were all emphasized by all four candidates vying for three seats on the Board of Commissioners of Clinton County.


Democrats incumbent Commissioner Paul Conklin and Angela Harding, and Republicans former commissioner Miles Kessinger and incumbent Commissioner Jeff Snyder once again were cordial and appeared to have similar goals and ideas for the county during Tuesday night’s Candidate’s Night, sponsored by the Clinton County Christian Coalition in the large courtroom in the county courthouse.


The last of 12 questions asked by moderator Patrick Robinson was what excites them the most about Clinton County.

”The possibilities are the future and the area is set for growth,” said Harding.


Kessinger noted area’s recreational options, environment and good transportation.
”We are wide open for expansion,” he said.


Snyder could not limit his answer to a few. “There is so much. I get to work with so many good people,” he said, adding it is nice to again see bald eagles again flying high in the county.


Conklin agreed with Snyder that the thing he loves the most is the people. “It’s the sense of community that we have,” he said. “There is such a strong family connection. I love the people in Clinton County.”


Regarding a question on working more efficiently with the school district, the university and the county businesses, all had words of praise for all involved, especially new KCSD Superintendent Jacquelyn Martin, new LHU President Robert Pignatello, the Clinton County Economic Partnership and businesses.


Snyder said he has organized several meetings with Martin. “She is a great leader. There are some great things happening in Clinton County with some great people,” he said.


Conklin noted teaching all with job skills.”People need to show up for a job opportunity and bring the needed job skills with them,” he said.


Harding, a former communications director for KCSD, said she has worked with the district partnering with First Quality with jobs at the county’s largest employer. Kessinger said the county should open up more lines of communications with more entities to have a more-skilled trades work force.


Regarding a question from Robinson what they thought was the county’s biggest social issue:
Snyder said the county’s opiod crisis and the push to legalize marijuana across the state.
He said the costs for support services required by the county would exceed the possible increased tax revenues.
Conklin also noted the opiod crisis, but added the county is more into treatment than it is with imprisonment.

“We have a different, better process with treatment instead of locking them up and throwing away the keys,” he said.
Harding stated the county’s mental health and poverty issues.
Kessinger responded the lack of family structure and the possibility of legalizing marijuana.
”Drugs are the problem and legalization is not the answer,” he said.


All thanked the Christian Coalition for sponsoring the debate, along with those who attended and the media for its reporting of the candidate’s night.
The evening also included introductions from the two candidates for Lock Haven City Mayor, Democrat Councilman Joel Long and Republican newcomer Dr. Jeff Brinker.


Brinker noted he is a lifetime resident of Clinton County, graduating from the former Bald Eagle-Nittany High School in 1990 and a 1994 graduate of LHU. He has taught K-12 health and physical education since 1995. “I believe politics has no place in government,” he said. “We should do what is right because it is the right thing to do.”


Long said he has always tried to help people, but when he first came into politics he found out there were rules and regulations. He noted he led an effort to raise $100,000 for the Tiger Den Playground at Dickey Elementary School, has served the city for more than a decade and helped start an elementary basketball league. “I have spent most of my adult life to make Lock Haven a better place,” he said.


The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.