By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Two candidates for Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner offer different visions for economic development.
Republican Scott Nelson says the county cannot promise one new company or one new job.
“And if someone promises you that then I would walk away, because you can’t promise it,” Nelson says during a recent candidate forum sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “But what we can promise is to look at every proposal and most proposals come through the Chamber. They have an arm. They’re the kind of advertising role. But to look at those proposals and see if they’re viable for the county.”
Democrat Andrew Gibson suggests support of the arts and culture will promote economic growth.
“The other thing that I think you would bring up is the fact that we would have to strengthen our school districts,” Gibson tells the forum held at Stoney Creek Hotel and broadcast on KFEQ. “We have to look at the fact that they are struggling and when businesses that would be willing to come in to St. Joseph or Buchanan County, they look at those school districts that are subpar and that plays a factor when they think about bringing their production facilities here.”
Nelson faces Gibson on the November 8th ballot to succeed Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer, who decided not to run for re-election.
The two don’t even agree on the biggest issue facing the county.
Gibson points to mental health reform, especially in light of the growing opioid crisis. For Nelson, public safety is the county’s number one issue, stating that the commission needs to back the sheriff’s department.
Both addressed the shortage of officers in the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department.
Nelson says he will work with the sheriff’s department in its effort to attract quality candidates, a problem that he says is not unique to Buchanan County.
“We attract them with supporting them number one, trying to keep them safe and, at the same time, funding them as much as we can, as much as possible, to increase their pay, protect them, give them all the things they need to be protected, so they can keep us safe,” Nelson says.
As for Gibson, he says it is important for the sheriff’s department to understand it has an ally in the presiding commissioner’s office.
“Obviously, funding would be my main thing,” Gibson says. “Letting people understand that there is a firm community behind those people when you come here. Keeping your family safe would be a top priority. And then anyone that might be coming from somewhere else, let them understand the great things that Buchanan County has to offer to their family.”
The two candidates suggest different approaches to upgrading county roads and bridges.
Gibson says the county needs to conduct a survey of its infrastructure.
“As soon as you’re getting nice enough weather, you got out, you survey your bridges, your roads, and one of my things is making sure that all of our county roads are clearly labeled so we know if there’s a situation happening beyond any of our community borders in the county, that we know where they’re at and you can find them easier,” according to Gibson.
Yet, Nelson says he would defer to the Eastern and Western District Commissioners on how best to approach road and bridge work.
“That’s what they’re elected to do, to take care of roads and bridges in our county,” Nelson says. “Andrew brought up a good point as far as identifying county roads. The GIS or the IT guys up in the courthouse are working with the city and the country in order to get that to happen.”
Buchanan County voters decide the race November 8th.