This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE     4-1-04

          The voters will have a large group to vote for in the primary election.

          There are six Republican candidates for the County Commission post held by Steve West who has indicated he will not run again, and four for the commission seat currently held by Al Switzer.

          We note that the Republican women held a forum recently for the candidates and views were varied on such issues as the current budget deficit in the County, the electric plant proposing to build in the Bonanza area, among other issues.

          In the days before the primary it will be interesting to hear more of the views about county problems from these candidates so the voter can make up his or her mind.

          Obviously the question of how to deal with the current budget deficit is a big problem.   According to the county financial adviser, Mike Long, the deficit surfaced long ago.   The budget projected a

$500,000 cash carryover, that turned out to be a $400,000 plus deficit, leaving about a million dollars short of funds needed for the fiscal year.

          How would these candidates handle the deficit?  Obviously those in office have yet to address it, even though the budget committee did have one meeting and two weeks later another coming up. 

          On the issue of the electric plant proposed for the Bonanza area, it seems that only Stephanie Bailey supported it.  She indicated that it meant jobs and these were badly needed.

          In connection with the projected plant is the question of the Commissioners executing a plan to make it an enterprise Zone, thus giving the company a huge tax exemption for a period of five years.

Most of the candidates opposed this,

          In my mind there are other issues that also should be addressed.

          What is the view of the candidates on closer cooperation with the city of Klamath Falls?  After all…that is the largest city in the county.

          A city that is half run by the city and the other half by the county is deserving….rather….needs closer cooperation between the two governing bodies.

          I can’t recall when last the two governing bodies met together.

          Also there needs to be further deliberations between the two bodies as to how do we unite the Klamath Falls area into one community.   I know that the City Manager tried to pull a rabbit out of the hat in his recent venture into that effort, but since it failed that doesn’t mean the effort should end there.

          Also there is the question of road funds that are badly needed inside the current city where most of the business activity occurs.

Division of these funds should be roundly discussed.  I realize that a recent effort to consolidate the road departments into one apparently went no place, but it should have.

          Also there is the question of cooperation among the three commissioners, and perhaps better sharing of problems and their possible solutions.

          Some might also consider having a County Manager or at least one individual that can be contacted by any county department rather than trying to answer to all three.

          These are some of the issues that we can hope those seeking to become our next County Commissioner should be addressing.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE