The Athens County League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum Tuesday at the Athens Community Center for the Athens County Commissioner race between incumbent Charlie Adkins and challenger Jon Rose.
Adkins began the forum by highlighting his previous job at the fire department, union involvement and current projects as commissioner, including a $12 billion communication center.
Rose introduced himself to the audience as a father, paramedic, small business owner and independent removed from party loyalties.
“I don’t believe in a system that values party loyalty above all else,” Rose said. “As a paramedic, I don’t ask someone if they’re Democrat or Republican before I help them.”
The candidates then addressed the housing crisis in Athens. Rose said the root of the problem lies in the current income of Athens residents. If elected, his focus would be making sure people are making livable wages so they can afford a house or apartment.
Adkins responded by sharing two groups he has been working with as commissioner: seniors and low-income residents. Adkins said they are currently working on senior housing in The Plains and recently created more affordable apartments in Athens. He said he hopes to continue improving housing options for all citizens if elected.
Rose said he believes the commissioner's office needs to be more transparent and accessible. He said during his campaign, he spoke to people living in smaller towns or villages who felt alienated from their government and would like to see that change in the future.
Adkins felt his work as commissioner helped small townships and villages and provided examples of the $2 million of funding he acquired to improve areas like Jacksonville, Albany and Coolville.
Adkin stated he is very passionate about speaking to his community about issues.
“I’m out with the people, and I’m out there with the township trustees,” Adkins said. “I’m not an office setter. I go out and do my job and work with these folks.”
Adkins also highlighted the work he has done in the Regional Jail as a representative for the county. He said the county pays $2 million a year to the jail regardless of how many inmates from the area were housed there, so he restructured that so the funding was representative of the number of inmates.
Rose said, as commissioner, he would take a different approach than Adkins to incarceration.
Rose said he feels there are better ways to treat people with addiction or mental health issues than sending them to jail, and Athens County should be spending money to provide assistance before they end up in prison.
“We could incorporate spending money to help the actual problems that led people to be incarcerated as opposed to paying money for beds and meals that maybe they don’t need,” Rose said.
Rose said the commissioners recently voted to end support for a mental health crisis team that aided local police and EMS with managing mental health situations.
Adkins said the program was ended because funding was pulled by the association that created it. He said the number of calls was not reduced, and the program did not have the positive effects they hoped it would.
Both candidates also discussed transportation, and they said more accessible transportation options are needed in rural areas.
Adkins said the commissioners voted Tuesday to add new transportation to villages like Albany without raising taxes.
Rose said that the commissioner's office needs to do more for those in the poorest parts of the region who can’t afford a car and don’t have access to a bus system. He went on to say that citizens deserve reliable transportation, and until they get that, they won’t be able to hold jobs and function in society.
When asked about their support for Baileys Trail System, Adkins expressed his support for the initiative but also cautioned about how much money the program needs to achieve its goals.
Rose also supported and argued that the program could profit by expanding the tourism industry.
“When they have events, you see license plates from all over,” Rose said. “People come here just to use the trail system so money can be made from Baileys Trail System.”
The candidates then shared their ideas on how to create new employment and maintain current employees.
Adkins said he thinks the construction of the new airport will bring jobs to Athens and the building of new sewer facilities. He emphasized his current commissioner role and promised that if re-elected, he would continue creating opportunities in Athens.
“I work every day,” Adkins said. “That’s what I’m doing now is working with groups to bring those types of jobs into Athens, and I will continue doing that.”
Some residents were concerned about the current plan for a sewer expansion project and how much it would cost for them.
Rose said the sewer expansions should be need-based so people satisfied with their septic tanks don’t have to pay to connect to a sewer line.
Adkins explained most citizens need a sewer system because septic tanks aren’t practical in the terrain of Athens County and end up breaking. He also said the city received grant money for the project, so the cost would not be entirely on citizens.
“We got called down to the Guysville-Stewart area, and we held a public hearing because most people didn’t like it,” Adkins said. “Most of the people, when we got done, did like it.”
In their closing statements, Rose reiterated his feeling that the County Commissioner’s Office needs a change and needs to be more accessible to the community. He also emphasized his desire to lower the cost of living and support local businesses.
Adkins reminded voters to support the renewal levy for the EMS system and named other causes he supported as commissioner. He invited residents to contact him whenever they have concerns and speak to him if they see him on the street.
Adkins and Rose respected each other's time and responses, and the audience asked hard-hitting questions that signified serious local interest in the race.
Athens County residents can vote on the Commissioner's race, with early voting beginning on Oct. 8 and Election Day on Nov. 5.
