By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
The economy, county services and the foreclosure crisis were front and center at Thursday night's debate between Democratic candidates for Portage County commissioner.
About 60 people turned out to hear the views of challenger Brett McClafferty, 19, of Streetsboro and 20-year incumbent Chris Smeiles. The debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kent and the League of Women Voters of Northern Portage County.
McClafferty said he believes it's time for a change.
"I have no quarrel with Chris Smeiles. He's a nice guy. I just think he's been in public office too long," McClafferty said at the end of their hour-long debate. He pointed to the current board, where "all three commissioners are middle-aged," and said the board needs one commissioner "who's of a different generation and a different perspective."
"I'm not going to apologize for being middle-aged. It happens to you," Smeiles responded. "But it does give life experience" and a longer perspective, he said.
The two agreed on a number of issues, and differed on more.
McClafferty said he supports a charter form of county government with an elected executive because it would guarantee broader representation.
Smeiles responded that Summit County, the only charter county in Ohio, has seen its expenses rise 300 percent under the charter form.
McClafferty said he supports a 30-day moratorium on foreclosures in the county.
Smeiles said commissioners have provided $100,000 in seed money for a local foreclosure prevention program that has so far saved 72 homes from foreclosure.
McClafferty said more should be done on economic development, noting the top development post was vacant for two years.
In his opening remarks, Smeiles announced the hiring of a new director and noted that office staff and commissioners did what was necessary.
McClafferty said he supports smart growth to protect environmentally sensitive areas. Smeiles said he has helped direct more than $1 million in the last 10 years to the Portage Park District to buy and protect such lands.
Smeiles said he's also helped create sewer projects around the county to replace failing septic systems and protect water sources and health.
McClafferty supports cutting the county workforce (excluding law enforcement) by 20 percent through attrition.
Smeiles questioned how the remaining workers would take care of the workload of a growing county with fewer people.
"It's not realistic and not fair to the people left to shoulder the load," Smeiles said.