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The
American Legion Hall was full for the League of Women Voters
recent Candidates Night Forum
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Candidates duel to
garner votes
Darke County League of Women Voters…
Contested races were presented for Municipal Judge, Greenville School
Board and Greenville City Council
By Bob Robinson
Three races were debated last week in a Candidates Forum sponsored by
the Darke County League of Women Voters. The forum was held at the
American Legion in Greenville in front of a full house.
The first debate was held between Julie Monnin, incumbent Darke County
Municipal Judge, and her challenger, Jesse Green. Among their differing
opinions were courthouse security, pre-trial hearings and partisanship.
Voters will choose one on Nov. 8.
The second debate was for Greenville School Board and included,
briefly, Joe Payne, appointed school board member who withdrew from the
race, Jim Sommer, incumbent, and challengers Fred Matix and Diana
Banta. Banta noted her main reason for running was that there were
problems that needed to be fixed. Matix said the community needs to get
involved and pride brought back to the district. Sommer said the
District was now rated Excellent and continues to improve. Voters will
choose two.
The third debate was for Greenville City Council Ward 1 between
Clarence Godwin, Republican, and Isabel Culbertson, Democrat. Godwin
focused on getting and keeping businesses. Culbertson focused on how
dollars were spent, noting especially the situation with Greenville
Parks. Voters will choose one to fill the seat being vacated on Jan. 1
by retiring Councilwoman Kathleen Floyd, Democrat.
Darke County Municipal
Judge
There were several issues that separated the two candidates.
Pre-trial hearings. Monnin said she doesn’t attend them because the
Ohio Ethics Commission recommends a judge stay clear of the hearings.
Green said the judge needs to be involved; it is important he have
input. Monnin: 7,000 cases a year would make it difficult to carve out
the time. Green: I would make the time; it’s important.
Judges non-partisan. Monnin said parties do not appear on the ballot,
but recent laws allow party affiliation to be used in the campaign.
Green said it was important for the voters to know he was a Republican
and a conservative. Green was later asked about his ability to be
impartial as an advertised conservative. He said he would; also that
his values are no different from those of most people in the room.
Monnin later added that she was a fiscal conservative and had returned
$45,000 of unused money to the taxpayers.
Added bailiff in Monnin’s courtroom for security. Green said this was
overkill. Most people were there for speeding or something silly. They
need to be treated with courtesy and respect. Monnin said it was for
deterrence and prevention, noting the attack on a former judge and a
woman caught in the courthouse with a 12” butcher knife.
Major issues. Monnin said it was the number of cases where the
defendant is not considered legally incompetent but still doesn’t have
the mental capacity to deal with his or her case. Green said it was HB
86, forcing more community controls, noting that the jail only has so
many cells. He also noted the number of mental health and drug issues.
In their opening statements, Green talked about his experience as
Assistant Darke County Prosecutor, private practice and his experience
in the National Guard. Monnin noted her six years on the bench as
Municipal Court Judge.
Greenville School Board
Payne was the first to speak and asked for no time limit to read a
prepared statement, adding that he would leave the debate when
finished. See earlier story in County News Online (under News). At that
time he withdrew from the election, noting that if he was elected, he
would resign.
The responsibility of the School Board. Banta said the Board has the
responsibility for the operation of the district. Matix said the Board
has to set policy, hold the administrative team responsible and follow
its chain of command. Sommer said the Board’s responsibility is to set
policy, hire the Superintendent and Treasurer, then noted there were
times that some people needed to be replaced, but couldn’t because of
longevity.
Administrators’ Pickup. Sommer said that in order to keep
administrators, some school districts do this. Matix said he was
blindsided when he heard this and didn’t know it happened here. He
added that it’s a secret way to give a raise. Banta said she agreed, it
wasn’t right.
Administrator salaries. Sommer said District pay is comparable to
similar districts and the salaries need to be paid to keep them, adding
that the District needs continuity. Matix said someone was going to be
run out of town, adding that the District hired him and that background
checks needed to be done. Banta said she agreed. Sommer said background
checks are done, adding that the District checks them out thoroughly.
He noted, however, that if another District wants to get rid of
someone, they don’t offer the full story with their responses to
queries.
Too many administrators. Sommers said he agreed. If the voters pass the
K-8 building, administrators could be decreased. The number of
administrators were decreased when Gettysburg and North were closed.
Banta said the District was overloaded, noting that there were some
administrators who weren’t doing anything. Matix said we need three
high schools in the county.
Serious drug issue, behavior. Banta said that on a school bus you tell
them no and you enforce it. You have to be diligent. Matix said maybe
it was time to have drug raids again, that the District used to have
them. Sommer said you can’t expect the school to deal with a community
problem.
In closing, Banta said she would deal with the issues that need to be
addressed. Matix said to forget looking in a rear view mirror… the
community needs to be looking forward for the future of the children.
Sommer said his experience on the local board has spread to state and
federal levels. He also noted that only 17 percent of parents in
Greenville are registered voters.
Greenville City Council,
Ward 1
Godwin’s focus was on getting and retaining businesses in Greenville.
Culbertson said there should be retail on Broadway and businesses like
AA and insurance companies don’t need to be there. Culbertson also
noted that the Parks District has recently laid off the last two
employees, but has the money to pay two supervisor salaries.
Both candidates agreed that dollars were in short supply. Answers were
not easy for problems such as abandoned houses or street repair. Godwin
noted the need to apply for grant dollars. Culbertson grant dollars
were hard to come by, the city doesn’t even have the dollars to board
up the houses; also that the owners were paying their taxes.
Drug houses. Culbertson said to wake up and smell the coffee, the issue
had to be addressed. Godwin said to inform the police.
Culbertson said she was upset with the way things were going, that the
city needs a new school and trees in the park need to be trimmed or cut
down. She added that if she is elected she will be the only
Councilperson who is a senior citizen and a woman, that these groups
will be represented. Both agreed that dollars have to be used wisely.
Godwin said a comprehensive business plan is needed to fill empty
storefronts and keep them filled.
Godwin said he cares about the community and is a people person. He has
served on the Civil Service Board and the Zoning Commission. He’ll ask
the questions and save dollars. Culbertson said she’s old and wise, has
lived in the community 50 years and was involved in the CO2
Sequestration fight, noting that a new business is now here to deal
with the carbon dioxide.
Prior to the debates,
Justin Hines and Maury Miles made brief presentations regarding their
candidacy for Greenville Township Trustee. Nancy Myers, Greenville
Auditor, and Mike Bowers, Greenville Mayor, made brief presentations on
their uncontested candidacies. State Issues 1, 2 and 3 were read
afterwards. Presentations were made on the Greenville Schools levy and
the Greenville Library levy, along with presentations on two renewal
levies.
In addition to interested citizens who will be voting on Nov. 8, there
were several Greenville High School students, members of Mrs. Hoying’s
class. They acknowledged they weren’t yet old enough to vote, but
considered this a good learning experience.
Greenville Library Director John Vehre was presented a Certificate of
Appreciation for allowing the use of the library for League of Women
Voters meetings.
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Darke
County Municipal Court Judge challenger Jessie Green and
incumbent Julie Monnin
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Greenville School Board preparing for the forum just prior to Joe
Payne’s
announcement he was removing himself from candidacy
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Greenville School Board candidates Diana Banta, Fred Matix and Jim
Sommer
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Greenville City Council candidates Isabel Culbertson and Clarence
Godwin
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Greenville Township candidates Justin Hines and Maury Miles,
Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers and Greenville Auditor Nancy Myers
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Greenville High School students Jalena LeMaster, Addison Byram,
Robert Franklin and Samuel Cox
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Payne
leaves the table after advising he is withdrawing from the campaign
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