Clinton County Commissioner Candidates Answer Questions: Angela Harding

The candidates respond:

The Record/therecord-online recently submitted a series of questions to the five candidates who will be on the May 16 ballot for Clinton County Commissioner. Four of the candidates chose to respond. We thank them for their responses and hope their answers help you make an informed decision when you vote on Tuesday. Their answers may be found at therecord-online.

Angela Harding (D)

Please tell us something of yourself and your reasons for seeking election:

My reason for running for commissioner is the same as it was when I ran for my first term in 2019. I want to work hard every day for the betterment of Clinton County. My goals are to make Clinton County a place that people are proud to live, a place that visitors make lasting memories, and those looking for a new home consider moving to. A place that businesses want to settle and where opportunities for growth are realized. I’ve learned so much in my short three and half years. I look forward to taking that foundation and having more of an impact in my second term and continuing the work that I’ve started. I am running for re-election because I have more work to do and will be honored to continue doing it.

Bechtel Corporation (Renovo Energy Center) recently ended its quest for a natural gas to electricity plant in Renovo. What can county government do to find a meaningful employer for the proposed site?

Alone, the county can do nothing. This will take all hands on deck. Legislators, Partnership, borough and county officials all need to come together, brainstorm, and utilize resources to develop a plan B. This plan needs to incorporate the expensive cleanup of the existing site, identify funding to do so, and identify and recruit an industry that will benefit both Renovo and the county.  There are several trending options that would be a good match but with the initial investment to rehabilitate the property the challenge is real. The Renovo area is full of strong, dedicated people. They have endured loss and keep moving forward. I plan to move with them.

As a side note: I am curious if the environmental group that fought to prevent Renovo Energy will invest in the site to make it appealing to an environmentally friendly endeavor. Maybe that’s where we can start.

A group calling itself Operation Cleanup in Renovo wants community support for its effort. Should county government play any role in that effort?

My first question would be, what are they intending to clean up? I researched this group on several platforms and was unable to learn more. To this point and to my knowledge, they have not contacted county offices. The county should support all efforts to make Clinton County the best it can be within the boundaries of county government’s ability and without discrimination.  But without knowing more regarding this specific group, I can not say. Clinton County Redevelopment Authority is currently concentrating on property improvement and rehabilitation. This will be an objective across the county, including Renovo.

Belles Springs golf course has been a successful enterprise run by the County Recreation Authority. Might the county and its taxpayers be better served if the course were converted to private enterprise and a return to the tax rolls? Why or why not?

This is not an option. Belles Springs was purchased with federal money and is tethered to the agreement that was created at the time of its purchase; which is to maintain a public golf course. The Belles Springs Golf Course brings economy into our community via golf enthusiasts from around the region. Could we try and go through a long, drawn out process in the courts to reverse the stipulations? Probably, at the cost of county taxpayers and from what I understand the result will most likely not reverse the current requirements. I am of the belief that we should concentrate on the properties that we currently have available. There is a considerable amount of land across the street in the William Garbrick Business Park that will make a great addition to the tax rolls once developed.

A Centre County entrepreneur wants to locate a hydrogen producing plant in West Keating Township. The Clean Air Council has already raised concerns about the proposal. Should this plant be encouraged or discouraged by county government?

There are too many variables and unknowns with this project. This petrochemical project has been in the finance, development stage for several years and is moving very slowly. I cannot encourage or discourage this specific project until we know more. Last I knew, KeyState hadn’t begun the permitting process with DEP and EPA. It would provide taxes for Clinton but not KCSD as it is in the West Branch School District. From what I understand it will capture and store CO2 while producing other chemical conversions from natural gas. This appears environmentally responsible however, I’m not a chemist or biologist so I need to learn more. We walk a fine line in our rural county. We need industry, jobs, and taxes but we also need to conserve and protect our natural resources.

Clinton County has operated under the same form of government since the Civil War era. Might the time be at hand to look at some kind of home rule reform to modernize the system? Or are you satisfied with the set-up at present?

I am satisfied with our current form of government. I have had the opportunity to meet ‘council’ members from home rule counties (there are only 7 counties out of 67). All of the current home rule counties have a population of over 200,000 people, one over 500,000, and one over a million. Clinton County with just over 38,000 people needs the help of the state government and should we ever consider home rule, residents will need to understand that home rule does not have to abide by the state set taxing limits. Rather than changing the way we operate, I believe we need to involve more people in the processes by way of our authorities, boards, and committees. We need to seek out tomorrow’s leaders and encourage them to get involved and pave the way for our future.

How would you rate county government’s working relationship with its elected state representatives, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz and state Sen. Cris Dush? Is the dialogue adequate to the needs of county residents?

I have been vocal during my time in office that Representative Borowicz and I share different beliefs with regards to cultural issues. It is my hope that she and her team can focus on issues that are relevant to the people of Clinton County and construct legislation reflecting that. EMS crisis, housing crisis, minimum wage, healthcare to name a few. What I can say is that anytime I have contacted her staff (McCain or Greene) they have always been quick to respond and helpful. Senator Dush was the reason that the commissioners were brought into the discussion with UPMC at the 11th hour and I appreciate his insistence that we were involved. Dush’s aide, Brandy Reiter has been great and shares information to keep the office abreast of issues. At the end of the day, we have to communicate and work for all people of Clinton County. No party. No personal beliefs. We need to tackle the issues together.

Will you take a “no tax increase” pledge for the next four years if elected? If you do, how do you see the county surviving fiscally in this inflation-ridden era?

I will pledge not to lie to the voters of Clinton County for the sake of a vote. I am honored to be part of a team that has not raised taxes during this term (2020-2023). Can I take a pledge for the next four years? I’d love to say yes. But unless you have a crystal ball to look into the future…I cannot and will not make promises that I’m not sure I can keep. What I can say is that I will do everything in my power to not raise taxes in the next term. I am well aware of the socio-economic status of our county and the burden that raising taxes will impose on the elderly and families in poverty. I am a fiscally conservative person and I have voted no on purchases. We have made decisions in the last couple of years that will sustain county government for the next several years. What we can’t project are state mandates that are handed down, unfunded with no warning or time to budget. We have to work together towards building census and economic stability for the benefit of all. This is what will hold the line on taxes and this is the work I have been doing and will continue to do.

Lock Haven University is half its former size. The Keystone Central School District is more than half its former size. Lock Haven has lost it hospital. Renovo recently lost its best economic hope with the end of the REC project planning. The county is shrinking and aging, population-wise. How do you see your role as a commissioner in changing this discouraging trend? Be specific as possible.

My approach is to control what we can control and make positive change in the face of negatives. My role as commissioner changes this trend with attitude, hard work, creative ideas, and believing it can happen while convincing others it can too. With the support of my fellow commissioners and county planning, I have implemented the Live and Work Relocation Program. Almost 50 people have moved to our county through the program and we expect to add additional funds. We need to support young entrepreneurs and small business. We need to support our public schools and encourage workforce development through KCSD Career and Technical education and LHU. We need to expand and market recreational opportunities and focus on the things that young families and remote workers are attracted to. We (county) have to continue to advocate for healthcare accessibility and resources. All things I have been doing and will continue to do. I could literally go on for pages on this topic…but since we were given a word count limit….I’ll close with this: change does not happen in 1 year, 2 years, or even one term. It takes small steps, collaboration, and people (from the top of the governing body – state, county, municipalities – to the boots on the ground) working towards the same goals. This is the work I want to do.