HURRICANE - A mix of incumbents and political newcomers fielded questions from voters Tuesday at an annual forum for candidates in Putnam County.
Hopefuls for six offices made their case at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club. The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club sponsored the event.
Election Day for the primary race is May 13. Early voting begins today.
Circuit judge
In the race for Division I circuit judge, Democratic lawyers David Hill and Phil Stowers face each other in the primary. The winner will face Republican incumbent Ed Eagloski in the fall.
Stowers said he would focus on establishing a drug court, which he believes would save taxpayers money and reduce recidivism. Drug courts direct offenders to substance abuse treatment rather than to jail. He also touted his experience litigating in jury trials all over the state.
Hill said he has "common sense" and experience. He has been the county's mental hygiene commissioner for decades.
Eagloski said his record shows he's "been tough on crime." He also said he believes in programs that help rehabilitate criminals.
In Division II, lawyer Rosalee Juba-Plumley is challenging incumbent Circuit Judge O.C. "Hobby" Spaulding. Both are Democrats.
Juba-Plumley called herself a mother and small business owner who has practiced law for 23 years: "I have represented people from all walks of life," she said.
If elected, she will focus on issues of child neglect and abuse, she said.
Spaulding said he has won awards for his work on child abuse issues. He has been a judge for 16 years and is also a former prosecutor. He is not accepting any contributions for his campaign because he wants to completely avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety, he said.
Circuit clerk
Darlene Smith and Jim Withrow face each other in the Democratic race for circuit clerk.
For the past 10 years, Smith has been chief deputy in the clerk's office. She has 28 years of experience in circuit clerk offices and loves going to work every day, she said.
"I am running for the love of the office," she said. "My heart's behind this race."
Withrow said he would be a strong leader and would work for innovation. "There will be some changes," he said.
For example, he wants to increase the public's access to information by pushing the state Supreme Court to put records online, he said.
Ronnie Matthews, the only Republican running, said he wants to "grow the office" as the late Circuit Clerk Donald Wright did. Matthews would focus on getting "more training for the girls in the office," he said.
County commission
In the Republican primary for county commission, incumbent Steve Andes faces Jerry Lilly.
Andes, a retail manager elected in 2002, told the audience that the county commission has lowered the levy rate four out of the six years since he has been in office.
Commissioners have invested millions in water and sewer projects over that time, he said. They have also provided more money for the sheriff's department and for emergency vehicles, he said.
Lilly said he believes all households in the county should have public water. He said he also would work for more fire stations and to attract a satellite office of Marshall University.
He called himself a good decision-maker who will be able to work with department heads throughout the county.
Whoever wins the primary will face Democrat Bob Leslie, who is unopposed.
The county must have a long-term plan for economic development, especially in terms of infrastructure, said Leslie, a lawyer.
"I want to take actions today to make sure [the county] is a great place to live for the next 20, 50 years," he said.
Sheriff
Current Sheriff Mark Smith will face former Sheriff Stan Farley in the general election in November.
Smith, a Republican, said he has made many improvements to the department since he was elected in 2004. For example, the department now has a complete policy and procedure manual, and all deputies are drug-tested, he said.
Smith said he is highly trained, and worked in the State Police for 25 years.
Farley was Putnam sheriff from 1997 to 2004, and wants his old job back.
"Leadership is what I got, and experience is what I got," Farley said.
He said he was always was tough on criminals: "We put the heat on them."
Assessor
Incumbent Assessor Peachie Arthur, a Democrat, faces a challenge from his own department in the general election.
Republican Sherry Troyer Hayes is the county's chief appraiser and a longtime employee in the assessor's office.
Hayes said she has done just about every job in the office and called herself "qualified, knowledgeable and hardworking." She would work with the Legislature to raise the homestead exemption for seniors.
Arthur, who has been assessor for three terms, said he knows people have been hit by rising property values, but said he has tried to make sure that the increases affect taxpayers gradually, not all at once.
He said he would push for the state to make sure other counties are complying with assessment laws. He would also continue working on a computerized countywide mapping project he initiated.
School board
Two seats are open in the five-person school board. The positions are nonpartisan.
Incumbent Sam Sentelle is running unopposed for the District II seat. Candidate Steve Hoffman is opposing incumbent Jack Coyner for the District III seat.
"The board needs to concentrate on policy development and stay away from day- to-day operations in the schools," said Sentelle, former Putnam superintendent.
Hoffman said he has two children in Putnam schools and would be a voice for parents: "I know kids," he said.
Coyner is a former teacher, principal and coach. Putnam students' high test scores and other factors prove the schools are providing excellent educations, he said.
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