Clinton County Commissioner Candidates Answer Questions: Jim Russo

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

Jim Russo (R)

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

Given my past experiences, I feel I am the best suited to handle the business of the County.  I am a negotiator.  I can form coalitions with all levels of government and do so in a nonpartisan way.  Working with people has been my life for the last 45 years.  I am ready for this seat and bring a wealth of experience and a strong resume to this position.

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?

I have worked tirelessly and will continue to work for another project there.  However, I want the people to know exactly what was lost by this project not coming to Renovo.

• $150,000 intended for Renovo Hospital
• Financial support for Renovo EMS
• $31,000 for the Renovo River walk
• Millions for the waterline renewal from Pattys run to the interconnector, and to the property.
• Annually $500,000 in taxes directly to Renovo Borough
• Annually $600,000 in taxes to Keystone central school district
• Annually $500,000 in taxes to the County

REC (Renovo Energy Center) asked for no LERTA or tax shelters for this project or tax breaks, they also committed $20 Million for the direct cleanup of the site with no grant, State or Federal money.  We have been stopped by a process that is set up in a manner that no project will ever move forward in our State.  Opposition groups can simply appeal over and over again until investors move to another project.

We recently returned from a meeting in Harrisburg with our State Representative, Senator, and the Shapiro administration to work on a pathway forward.

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

I am not aware of this group and have not been able to find any information on the group.   Until I have additional information about its membership, purpose and mission, I am not able to comment.

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?

Belles Springs golf course is a federally funded golf course.  Until I am able to see additional details about that funding and the guidelines around the course when it was established, I am not able to commit to returning it to the tax rolls or not.

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?

We need to encourage this opportunity.  During my term as chairperson of the Clinton County Economic Partnership, we began discussions with the developer of this project that have continued over the last 18 months.  We need to fully explore this opportunity.

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?

Clinton County did this study some years ago, and it was voted on by the people and was not adopted.

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 a great working relationship with both Rep. Borowitz and Sen. Dush.  I am sure there are areas where we all can improve or change.  If we need more dialogue, we can have it.  You see a common theme in all my responses — economic development and relationships.  The key to success is not only funding; it is also successful relationships across all levels of government.

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 cannot take a no-tax pledge.  We do not have a crystal ball into the future, and we need to be realistic about the financial situation of the County.  I would be misleading the residents of Clinton County for me to take a no tax pledge at this time.

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.

The underlying impact to all these issues is economic development.  Bringing additional business and industry to the county will bring more population to the county.  To do this, we must expand our infrastructure – gas, electric, sewer, water, internet – to help with development.  The costs of this expansion can be offset by pursuing grant funding.  We also need to have a strong primary and secondary education system to attract new residents to the County.  We need to partner with KCSD to determine how we can best support and complement their programs and growth. It is interdependent — no one organization can turn this trend around on its own.  We all have a role but need to be working in the same direction.   I mentioned earlier exploring and encouraging a new opportunity in West Keating Township.  We need another economic opportunity for Renovo.   LHU recently developed a community town/gown committee with membership from Downtown businesses, the Arts Council, CCEP, and the University with a focus on reengaging the University and the local community.   All these initiatives, collectively, need to be successful to start to change this trend.