It’s in the public interest that county controller candidates are included in any planned commissioners’ debate. This event must not only be broadcast on television but also livestreamed to ensure the widest dissemination possible.

Every four years a commissioners candidates’ debate is held. When the sheriff’s race is competitive, those candidates are included in the event. In the primary, the next sheriff was decided and likewise the positions of prothonotary, recorder of deeds, and district attorney who have no opposition in November’s General Election. Excluding the commissioners’ race, four candidates vying for three positions, no county-level race will be authentically competitive except for the controller’s in which Sam Lux will face off against his Republican rival. The current Democrat coroner will face a write-in candidate; however, the competitiveness simply stems from the imbalance of party voter registration and raw turn out numbers favoring Republicans.

Few voters understand the important role of the controller who oversees the fiscal integrity of county finances, manages audits, and oversees the fiscal department. Additionally, the office holder serves as secretary of the Retirement Board responsible for growing and safeguarding a highly coveted defined benefit retirement plan valued at approximately $85 million, injecting a half-million dollars into the local economy monthly via distributions to 398 pensioners. The controller is the only row officer that joins the three commissioners as standing members of the Salary Board and sits on the Prison Board.

Stating prerequisite qualifications, including expertise in finance and accounting, are crucial is an understatement. The criticality of this position demands that as we cast our ballots and select the next controller as well-informed voters; absent a debate of controller candidates, this will not be so. History tells us that the candidates’ forthcoming onslaught of election mailers won’t sufficiently arm us to understand the position, and most importantly, the attributes that each candidate would bring to the office. Therefore, let’s do the citizens, county employees, current and future county retirees, and ourselves all a public service and advocate for a county-level office debate that includes the controller candidates.

Chris L. Lukasevich

Carbon County Commissioner