In the primary election, Republican Commissioners George Halcovage, chairman, and Frank Staudenmeier are being challenged by Melissa Strauch. Commissioner Gary Hess is joined by running mate Joseph Palubinsky. Each candidate was sent four questions. Halcovage and Staudenmeier chose to supply their answers in a joint response.

Republicans

George Halcovage

Background: Halcovage, 61, is a lifelong resident of Pottsville and county commissioner since 2012. Married 38 years to Barbara (McCarthy), parents of five children and seven grandchildren. Graduate of Nativity BVM High School, and Villanova University (1979), then worked at the family-owned Morgan & Halcovage Insurance Agency, Minersville, where he has been president for 16 years. Serves on County Commissioners of Pennsylvania board (five years), where he chairs the Assessment and Taxation Committee. Chairman of Republican Caucus of Commissioners, Pennsylvania.

Frank Staudenmeier

Background: Staudenmeier, 68, is a lifelong resident of Ashland and county commissioner since 2002. Married to the former Kathleen Ritro, Girardville, two children and four grandchildren. Staudenmeier worked for PPL for 24 years as area manager and community development director. Staudenmeier and Halcovage were inducted into the County Commissioners’ Association “Academy for Excellence.” Statewide, Staudenmeier chairs the County Commissioners’ Association Investment Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the Health Insurance Co-op.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the county, and how would you resolve it?

A: Our biggest challenge is to provide requested and necessary services to the residents, but with limited resources (due to either unfunded mandated programs or those that require a local match). We provide services to citizens through children & youth, senior services, incarceration of prisoners, public safety (911 and emergency management), fair elections, agricultural conservation, blight remediation, veteran services, the courts and mental health, drug and alcohol treatment — while using zero-based budgeting.

Q: What can the county do to solve the opioid crisis?

A: Substance abuse, no matter its cause, requires strong state, county and local partnerships for effective education, prevention and treatment programs. We partner with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to obtain additional funding in this fight. We also work with our hospitals, physicians, community health partners, schools and law enforcement to provide community-based initiatives and education, to support long-term recovery.

Q: What have you done/what will you do to improve the county’s tax base?

A: Over the past seven years, our board of commissioners has worked closely with the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, our federal and state delegations, the Governor’s Action Team, our Chambers of Commerce and other key partners to promote and produce outstanding growth. This public-private partnership has brought us several Fortune 500 companies, with family-sustaining jobs with competitive salaries and benefits.

Q: The outsourcing of inmates at the Schuylkill County Prison is an ongoing problem. What are your ideas for solutions?

A: Those who are a danger to society need to be incarcerated and it is our obligation to do so. We have outsourced the overflow of inmates to other facilities in the state and have negotiated low costs per day. Our board works with the courts and supports efforts to streamline our criminal justice system. The implementation of drug court and monitoring offenders through the adult probation office has had a positive effect. Plans are in place to create an Intermediate Punishment facility in the near future.

Melissa Strauch

Background: A lifelong resident of the county, Strauch graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School and McCann School of Business, as co-valedictorian with an associate degree. She has worked in a variety of businesses, including a sewing factory, grocery store, international medical device provider company, an accounting firm and a garage. Currently serves on Schuylkill Haven School Board and Schuylkill Haven Rec Board. As a volunteer with various organizations, she has served as president, secretary, treasurer and chairwoman.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the county and how would you resolve it?

A: Our county faces many challenges. One is that our population has been decreasing. We need to find ways to not only keep our residents, but also attract new ones. Working to remove and replace blighted structures is a way to help, as it helps attract new residents as well as new businesses. New business provides employment opportunities and attracts visitors. New businesses and visitors would bring more money into our county.

Q: What can the county do to solve the opioid crisis?

A: Our county and local law enforcement officials have been working together as a team to reduce the illegal drugs in our county. We need to not only continue to encourage our law enforcement officials to work together, we need to help them as much as we can. Continuing to educate the public, including children, teens and adults, may help decrease future use, because they would understand the causes and effects of drug addiction.

Q: What have you done/or will do to improve the county’s tax base?

A: The county’s tax base may be increased by removing blighted properties, making space available for current businesses to expand, attract new businesses or to make way for new homes. This would put properties back on the tax base. Promoting our attractions could also attract new businesses and promote growth for current businesses. We have so many things to offer including the brewery, mining tours, train rides, campgrounds, festivals, off-road parks, dirt track racing and so much more.

Q: The outsourcing of inmates at the Schuylkill County Prison is an ongoing problem. What are your ideas for solutions?

A: Schuylkill County spent well over a million dollars in 2018 on outsourcing prisoners. Outsourcing prisoners is a short-term answer, and we need to find a long-term solution. Repurposing an existing structure to house nonviolent offenders, or building a new facility, would do away with outsourcing.

Democrats

Gary Hess

Background: Raised in St. Clair’s East Mines section, Hess is a graduate of St. Clair High School and the Schuylkill Technology Center (1975). He and his wife (former Sandy Luckenbill) moved to Schuylkill Haven and started Hess Catering, in business for 39 years with 40 employees. They have two children and two grandchildren. He has been involved with the Jaycees, holding every local office, as well as State President and National VP. Elected Mayor of Schuylkill Haven, 2005 and Commissioner, 2011. Awarded Schuylkill County Vision’s Outstanding Community Supporter, 2019.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the county and how would you resolve it?

A: Schuylkill County is experiencing its lowest unemployment in a long time, with good economic growth. This growth is a good thing, but we need a good work force to help fill that growth, so that employers can operate and grow their companies. To build the work force we support efforts such as Youth Summit, the MAEA Council and their YES (Your Employability Skills) program, Career Link and Schuylkill Technology Center (trades education).

Q: What can the county do to solve the opioid crisis?

A: We have experienced high rate of overdoses and deaths — one life lost, for me, is one too many and it has affected many families, didn’t matter if they were rich, middle class or poor, or age, race, color or religion. We lost mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends. Our county Drug & Alcohol Agency works with many groups, organizations and providers. Moving forward we need to support the formation of a coalition/task force, to implement a combined plan.

Q: What have you done/what will you do to improve the county’s tax base?

A: We need to continue the fight with blight and support community leaders’ who are working to revitalize, supplying them with needed tools and funding. Recently and with the help from our state delegation, we received a $1.4 million grant to aid in demolition of more than 90 properties. We also initiated a new $15 fee with the Recorder of Deeds — those fees will be used for demolition. We must foster new growth and construction.

Q: The outsourcing of inmates at the Schuylkill County Prison is an ongoing problem. What are your ideas for solutions?

A: This method has cost the county over $4 million since 2016, not counting the cost of transportation. This is over and above the regular costs of running our prison, which is old, without much room for enlargement. We need to secure an off-site facility, an Intermediate Punishment Center/Step Down Facility, to hold nonviolent offenders. This center could offer programs to help people re-enter communities.

Joseph L. Palubinsky

Background: Born and raised in Shenandoah, 1973 graduate of Shenandoah Valley High School, 1977 Graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, BS in Business Administration/minor in Marketing. Resident of Ringtown since 1987. Schuylkill County Children & Youth caseworker (1978-80), Borough of Shenandoah Community Development Director (1980-86), loan officer Miners Bank in Shenandoah/Pottsville (1986-88), Shenandoah Borough Manager (1988-2016). Married 39 years to Donna (Stauffer), five children, nine grandchildren.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the county and how would you resolve it?

A: The biggest challenge is the migration of our younger people, our greatest resource, out of the county. We must continue to support the ongoing efforts of the Youth Summit, Career Link, Building Trades and others, developing employment opportunities to entice our young people to stay raise their families in Schuylkill County. The STEM programs offered in various school districts helps develop professional and technological interests.

Q: What can the county do to solve the opioid crisis?

A: The opioid crisis must be addressed in a three-stage approach — education, treatment and law enforcement. Education is critical to prevention and must be provided early. Our D.A. has developed a program to educate children in our school districts. Providing treatment and facilities are keys to eliminating this addiction and agencies such as county Drug and Alcohol are instrumental. Support the D.A. and law enforcement — eliminate the source, eliminate the crisis.

Q: What have you done/what will you do to improve the county’s tax base?

A: Our county is the sum of all its parts, the 67 municipalities that compose it. Many are victimized by blight, aged and hazardous buildings. It is imperative that the county continue to partner with municipalities — the tax claim bureau has been a helpful partner yet is restricted by out-of-date real estate tax legislation. County involvement in the demolition program, revisiting Pennsylvania legislation and working with revitalization groups will improve our tax base.

Q: The outsourcing of inmates at the Schuylkill County Prison is an ongoing problem. What are your ideas for a solution?

A: In 2018, the county paid more than $1.6 million to house prisoners outside the county, which doesn’t include vehicle costs and overtime incurred transporting prisoners. Why can’t Schuylkill County consider constructing a new facility? Considering the amount spent to date, these funds can be used for debt service on a facility that can meet our needs and become a source of revenue for our county (similar to what other facilities charge us) and provide family-sustaining jobs for county residents.