SAEGERTOWN — Upcoming public forums give local voters an unfiltered look at candidates in contested races in Crawford County, according to local political leaders.

“The number one reason to hold them is to make the public more informed on the decision-making process and the issues candidates are dealing with,” said H. Leroy Stearns, chairman of the Crawford County Democratic Committee. “These are great avenues to make the community more aware.”

“Any way of getting a candidate’s message out to the people is good — especially when it’s face-to-face with the public,” said Robyn Sye, chair of the Crawford County Republican Party.

Four public forums are set so far — three for the candidates for Crawford County commissioner and one for the countywide treasurer and register/recorder races. Also, there are two meet-and-greet sessions.

The Meadville Tribune is hosting two of the forums — one for the Crawford County treasurer and register/recorder races on Oct. 11; and one for the Crawford County commissioner contest on Oct. 13.

“These forums give the public an opportunity to hear first-hand the responses by those seeking office,” said Pat Bywater, the Tribune’s executive editor. “We hope voters take the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the issues at hand.”

Both party leaders say voters need to be informed.

“It’s tough to be a candidate now. Budgets are tight, the economy is tough and some tough decisions have to be made,” said Stearns. “These races — especially commissioners — will affect local voters most.”

“I’m not excited about someone going in a voting booth and just pulling a lever,” Sye said. “We need informed voters who know the issues and where candidates stand.”

One of the biggest issues this year in the race for county commissioner may be what to do with county facilities.

The current Board of County Commissioners has formed a citizens advisory committee to study what to do to alleviate courthouse overcrowding and streamline county functions.

The committee is studying possible upgrades to the present Crawford County Courthouse and whether to use the county’s recently purchased former Talon Inc. Plant No. 5 in Meadville as part of any solution.

The Talon/courthouse situation is expected to be a major county campaign issue again in the November general election for commissioner since two of the three members of the current board are retiring at the end of their current four-year terms. Republicans Morris Waid and Jack Preston both chose not to seek re-election, while Democrat C. Sherman Allen is seeking re-election.

Any renovation work to either building has been forecast to cost millions of dollars, and purchase of the Talon property in February was a volatile campaign issue during the May primary.

In the May primary, all commissioner candidates — three Democrats and six Republicans — said they were against the project going forward.

Voters will elect three commissioners this fall from a final field of four candidates.

Democrats nominated Allen, an incumbent county commissioner; and Patricia Gillette, a teacher at Linesville High School in the May primary.

Republicans nominated Jack Lynch of Meadville, Crawford County planning director; and Francis Weiderspahn Jr., a farmer from the Cochranton area.

The top three vote-getters in the Nov. 8 general election will comprise the new board of commissioners that will be seated in January.

Other countywide contested races are for register of wills/recorder of deeds, and treasurer.

In the register/recorder’s race, Republicans nominated Deborah Curry, the current deputy register and recorder, to face Democrat Keith Abbott. Carol Stainbrook, the current register and recorder and a Republican, plans to retire at the end of her current four-year term.

In the treasurer’s race, Republicans nominated Christine Krzysiak, the current treasurer, to face Democrat Brad Cronin. Krzysiak was appointed to the post earlier this year to fill the vacancy created by the death of then-Treasurer Fred Wagner. The winner will fill the remainder of Wagner’s four-year term.



You can go

Upcoming public candidate forums in Crawford County include:

- Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. at Henne Auditorium, University of Pittsburgh-Titusville. At 6:15 is a forum for Titusville City Council candidates, followed at 7:30 by Crawford County commissioner candidates. The forum is hosted by imatterivote.com and Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce.

 - Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Meadville Senior Center, 1034 Park Ave., Meadville, with candidates for county treasurer and county register/recorder. The forum is hosted by The Meadville Tribune and will be broadcast on WMVL-FM, Cool 101.7.

- Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at Meadville Senior Center, 1034 Park Ave., Meadville, with candidates for county commissioner. The forum is hosted by The Meadville Tribune and will be broadcast on WMVL-FM, Cool 101.7.

- Oct. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Vernon Township Building, McMath Avenue, Meadville, with candidates for county commissioner. The forum is sponsored by Crawford County Pomona Grange and Crawford County Farm Bureau.

Also, there are at least two public meet-and-greet sessions scheduled:

- Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Crawford County Care Center, 20881 State Highway 198, Saegertown, for county commissioner candidates.

- Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Allegheny College’s Schultz Dining Hall, Meadville. The Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce and Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce host a political picnic dinner with all countywide candidates. Cost of the dinner is $10 per person for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Reservations are due by Oct. 20 by calling 337-8030 or e-mailing kbishop@meadvillechamber.com