1. How can Schuylkill County stem the out-migration of its youth?

"Schuylkill County is a great place to live. One of the things we have is a great quality of life. It's a matter of educating our youth about the opportunities we have here in the county. Safety, affordable housing, organizations for youth are all important. We excel in education. We have high schools, colleges, trade schools and business schools. Our high schools are some of the best in the state. We have family-sustaining jobs. The TIDE Industrial Park is now full, and more businesses are coming in to the county. But we have to convince our youth that the grass is greener here. It's a matter of educating our youth about what we have here in the county."2. Many young people choose not to stay in the county because of its reputation for being unwelcome to diversity racial, sexual orientation, religious or gender. What are you doing, or would you do, to make the county more welcoming and appreciative of differences?"When you look at Schuylkill County, we have diverse backgrounds, we were a melting pot Eastern Europeans, Polish, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Irish, Italians. You had your national churches, you had your clubs, Sons of Italy, the Polish-American Club. And I see the Irishmen who go to Lithuanian Day, Polish people who enjoy St. Patrick's Day. I come to Tamaqua to sing at the St. David Society with the Welshfest. I'm not Welsh. At the end of the day, we're all Schuylkill County. Are there some aspects of diversity where that's a problem? Sure. But that's everywhere. I think Schuylkill is a welcoming community. We have to respect each other, to listen to each other, to understand each other's ways and to get a common goal. not one group has the corner on great ideas."3. The county prison is aging and overcrowded, and court schedules are busier than ever. Would you be in favor of establishing a drug court in the county?"As chairman of the prison board, I know all too well the challenges of managing the prison operation. We are always looking at all different alternatives. The drug problem is national. It's epidemic. The president judge had put together a committee of judges, the district attorney and attorneys to review what their thoughts are, and as chairman of the prison board I look forward to getting those recommendations, because they are the ones who deal with the day-in, day-out operations. We're trying to identify best practices to bring here. We're trying to see who does this well, and is this something that can work here. If a drug court is the case, as a steward of the taxpayers, I'd like to see a way to help pay for that."4. How, specifically, would you help people regain their trust in county government in the wake of recent allegations of financial malfeasance?"Unfortunate circumstances such as these recent allegations are not exclusive to one type of organization or one area of the country. However, we need to look at simple solutions with practical applications. You need to have adequate safeguards with appropriate checks and balances. We have strengthened our financial team with people who have the skills necessary to review and monitor the accounts we are responsible for. The commissioners office has worked well with the controller's office to make sure money is being used properly for the good of the citizens of the county. As the county has been affected by unfortunate acts of a few, it is my responsibility as commissioner to follow through to make sure the county is reimbursed by those responsible for the losses that are found."5. Why should people vote for you?"Because I care. I wanted to run this county as a business. I also believe it's like sitting down at the family table to make decisions. We're not only commissioners who listen, but we also take action. We're not looking to push the problem off on someone else. We've made some tough decisions, on Rest Haven, on our 911 center, on providing radios to all volunteer firefighters. I always try to be available. You don't find out what the real issues are unless you talk to people. In the past, there may have been some commissioners who were better looking than me, there may have been some commissioners who were smarter than I am, but there aren't any commissioners who will be a harder work than I am."