HUNTINGTON -- Both Democratic candidates for Cabell County Commission say they will increase law enforcement within the county if they are elected in November.
Susan Hubbard and Damon S. Holley believe the county needs more sheriff's deputies to battle the drug trade.
The winning candidate will face incumbent Commissioner Nancy Cartmill in November. The Republican is running for her second term in office. She is unopposed in next week's primary.
Hubbard and Holley's more-police mantra should be popular with voters, but the current County Commission hasn't had money to hire additional sheriff's deputies since July 2004. That move did not result in a larger street presence, but added four deputies to operate the court's daytime holding facility.
Neither of this year's candidate had researched the county's budget as of Monday afternoon. Hubbard said she has plans to review the budget. Holley said he will look over the budget if he wins the primary.
Hubbard is a former elementary school teacher and state legislator. Besides hiring more deputies, her platform includes pay raises for courthouse employees, infrastructure improvements and attracting more business to Cabell County. The Huntington resident knows the budget is tight, and she doesn't know if there will be enough money to hire more deputies. She hopes to find more funds when she researches the county's budget. She said federal grants could provide some assistance.
"There has to be ways to find more money to do that," she said.
Holley is a police officer at Marshall University. In addition to hiring more deputies, his platform includes bringing jobs to the county. The Barboursville resident gained some business experience through rental property owned by his family. He said paying the bills will come first, and he believes enough money will be left over to hire more deputies.
"Even if it means cutting back in other areas," he said. "By increasing law enforcement, reducing our crime rate, and improving our infrastructure, more businesses would be enticed to locate in Cabell County."
When asked, Holley did not have an immediate answer about where budget cuts would occur. He said he believes some county construction projects include substantial waste.
Hubbard and Holley support pay raises for sheriff's deputies, but Holley said any raise would depend upon there being enough money for raises and more deputies.
Here are the two candidates' views on other issues:
REGIONAL JAIL: Incarceration costs consume large portions of Cabell County's budget. The county has set aside $2.8 million, about 16 percent of its budget, to pay regional jail costs in the 2008-09 budget year.
Hubbard said she favors placing non-violent criminals on probation and home confinement to save money. She also is pushing for more investigations into the high costs.
Holley supports budget cut backs at the local level, until state lawmakers ease the jail costs burden.
Both candidates support the County Commission involving itself in savings strategies, such as bond reductions and alternative sentencing.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Both candidates support extending public water/sewer lines to rural areas in Cabell County.
Holley did not name specific areas. He said he needed more time to study that matter.
Hubbard proposed taking service toward Mason County and roads extending from W.Va. 2. Those areas include Greenbottom and Barker Ridge. She also supports extending service to unserved areas in Salt Rock and Barboursville.
Hubbard said she would support merging all public service districts in the county if the merger would replace outdated lines without a cost being assessed to home owners.
"I live in the Pea Ridge area and have a flooded basement due to drainage and outdated sewers," she said. "I would support the merger, if it provided better service at a lower rate, especially for sewer fees."
JOBS: Both candidates said building better infrastructure will be key to attracting more jobs.
"The County Commission can work to attract more business by making county land sites available," Hubbard said.
Those sites would have water and sewer lines installed, along with the roads needed to send and receive material.
Hubbard also proposed the commission reduce fees for specific economic development projects. Contracts could be drafted to keep companies in the county for a long period of time. Leaving early could force the business to pay back differences in the reduced fee, she said.
Hubbard also supports advertising positive things and places within the county, along with using local workers to build local projects.
Holley said he will work with existing companies in an attempt to lure new companies to the area.
EMS/911 FEE: Neither of the candidates oppose a 3 percent administrative fee charged the county's EMS and 911 agencies. The current commission used the extra revenue to fund raises within the courthouse.
Holley said he would need time to look at the county's budget, while Hubbard would not propose an increase or decrease to the fee.
"I would further investigate what administrative services the county commission supplies to EMS and 911 agencies, at what costs to see if the assessment is justified," she said.
AMBULANCE STATIONS: Holley believes the county has an adequate number of ambulance stations. Hubbard supports building more ambulance stations as funds and grants become available.
"The quicker the response time for people in emergencies, the more lives could be saved," she said.
Hubbard said new construction should be dependent upon the population, number of traffic crashes and response time. She supports construction of an ambulance station in Milton and another station near Culloden.
COURTHOUSE SECURITY: The County Commission took control of the courthouse security force in 2007. There was no public discussion about the move. Current commissioners never confirmed the takeover occurred, but they have never disputed reports about the takeover.
Holley believes the matter needs further discussion. He said all parties need to "sit down and decide among themselves who would be best qualified to oversee" security.
Hubbard believes the takeover involved the current commission's tense relationship with the Sheriff's Office. She said she doesn't know the reason for the takeover, but she supports the commission having control.
"The final responsibility for all of the courthouse security, for both employees and citizens traveling in and out of the courthouse, rests with the county commission," she said. "If the responsibility is the commission's, then the control should be their decision with input from related departments."
Both candidates promised a better relationship with the incoming sheriff.
DILAPIDATED HOUSING: Holley believes it's time to consider methods of dealing with dilapidated housing. He believes a county ordinance could be in order, but he didn't provide any specifics.
Hubbard said she would support state lawmakers taking action toward taking fire insurance payments to pay for removing dilapidated structures caused by fire damage. She also supports community cleanup projects through awareness programs and public opinion campaigns. She supports pointing out problem areas and naming those responsible when possible.
ANNEXATION: Neither candidate supports loosening annexation laws to favor city governments, thus making it easier for cities to geographically expand.
"Annexation can be positive, if it causes areas to receive needed services and benefits," Hubbard said. "However, annexation must be done only with a clear knowledge of what the results will be, and how it will affect the people who live there."
ZONING: Both candidates believe the voters should play a large part in any future zoning decisions. Currently, no zoning laws exist in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Holley said the issue should be put to the vote of citizens.
Hubbard referred to the issue as a "two-edged sword." She said zoning laws can protect property values and attract business.
"If you own something, it should be under your control unless it violates the rights or laws of others," she said. "I would support zoning laws in Cabell County only when I was fully aware of the reasons and what affect it would produce after direct input from those affected."
METRO GOVERNMENT: The candidates differ on the issue of metro government, which is an idea that supports county governments merging with other counties or cities.
Holley said would not support the issue.
"The city of Huntington has too many problems at this time," he said. "I do not feel that it would be fair for all the people of Cabell County to take on Huntington's burdens."
Hubbard also opposes any merger with Huntington's city government, but she did not rule out other mergers. She would support a plan with fair rules and regulations, along with a concept that "would produce more efficient government for the taxpayers in Cabell County and save us money."
7-day Archive
