Election Guide: Four Face Off in Commissioner Race

Four county commissioner candidates—two seeking incumbency, and two new faces for the post—are seeking three county commissioner seats in the Nov. 8 general election.

The Washington County Commissioner candidates’ profiles are in ballot order and focus on the two biggest issues facing the county: the advent of Marcellus Shale fees and property tax reassessment.

Diana Irey-Vaughan (R)

Seeking her fifth term, Irey-Vaughan is a West Virginia Business College graduate with additional class experience in accounting and constitutional law at Fairmont State and California University of Pennsylvania.

Among her accomplishments is a consistently balanced budget and in the past 16 years, either the second or lowest county tax rates in the state. Irey-Vaughan developed the Furlough Into Service Program, a restitution program in which non-violent prisoners worked nearly 80,000 hours of public service in surrounding communities.

Why are you running?

"I think my track record speaks for itself on most things. I want to see the projects we started to completion—Skypointe, Starpointe Phase II. I want to see Veteran’s Court go well and I want to see property tax reform through. I want to continue to be an advocate for our human services and get the money our county needs."

What are your feelings about the pending property tax reassessment?

"I think it’s foolish to waste $8 million (over 30 months) when we have a shot at getting something done and getting a better system in place. The system (here) is only used in-state and in Delaware. We have a lack of uniformity, and we’re going to continue to fight the judicial reassessment order."

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale drilling and possible associated fees?

"Here’s why a severance tax makes more sense than an impact fee: both (Sen. Joe Scarnati’s and Gov. Tom Corbett’s) proposals end in 10 years—we’re being short-sighted. There’s longevity and assurance to a tax that should be more uniform."

Bill Northrop (R)

Seeking his first term as county commissioner, Northrop graduated from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, later getting his master's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Northrop has held various executive positions as an owner of the Observer-Reporter for more than 17 years, and owned and operated the Sylvan Learning Centers. Northrop has served as executive pastor in McMurray’s Bible Chapel.

Northrop has proposed a 10 percent rebate for taxpayers from last year’s taxes. Northrop says he’s a businessman, not a politician, and believes he will bring fiscal soundness as a fresh face having not previously served in government. He wants to more aggressively look at county government staffing to avoid situations like Pittsburgh’s pension woes.

Why are you running?

"I love this county—been part of it for a long time. I believe my entrepreneurial
ventures and business experience would be a complementary element to the
commissioners’ office. I think there’s value in having diverse perspectives.

"We need a leader with a real vision, and to be a driver of economic development across the county. We’ve had growth in a few communities while most others have lost population—we need to recognize what individual communities need to succeed and thrive. In speaking with those community and business leaders there’s a business language, and I understand that language."

What are your feelings about the pending property tax reassessment?

"It’s been 30 years and sooner or later you have to bite the bullet. It’s going be a
mess. We don’t want what happened in Allegheny County. We need to do what we can now to move forward, yet we’ll ultimately have to wait on what comes down from the president judge’s ruling."

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale drilling and possible associated fees?

"I’m hoping there’s liberty in how the funds are used. I have suggested that 100
percent (of the county allotment) go to infrastructure. The county owns bridges,
and those are our responsibility for the most part. With tanker trucks in the area,
they’re sometimes driving over them when they’re not supposed to (because of weight restrictions) or are driving all the way around for an alternate route—both costs the community they’re driving through. Infrastructure improvement is something tangible, permanent, and something everyone benefits from."

Larry Maggi (D)

Seeking his third term as Washington County commissioner, Maggi graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's of science in education before serving in the Marine Corps and as a state police trooper for 24 years.

Maggi has been twice elected as the county’s sheriff.

Maggi has lived, worked and served in Washington County his entire life save for his two years with the Marines. Maggi said he believes his record, accessibility and community involvement have been part of Washington County’s successes.

He said he believes his aptitude for managing crises in a common-sense way amid the constant flow of plans and goal setting has led the county in a predictable and responsible path.

Maggi said he is proud of his dedication and involvement with Veterans’ Affairs, his role in setting up Drug Treatment Court, and overseeing the expansion of quality health care in the region.

Why are you running?

"I think I’ve done a decent job serving our county, and I’d like to continue to do so. Governing is a constant flow and continuation of managing crises head-on as they pertain to your goals and plans.

"I’ve raised my family here. I want to make sure families have the same opportunities and benefits of living in the county that I have experienced.

"I want to make sure our county keeps our country charm—I don’t want to see it turn into the concrete jungle that Allegheny County is. We have parks, and green space, and smart growth. It’s a delicate balancing act I want to be a part of."

What are your feelings about the pending property tax reassessment?

"Let me be clear: Reassessment (under the current system) is bad. It’s a horrible
system. No one stipulated this (to move forward)—we (commissioners) stipulated
a series of facts. The Legislature is looking to change it. Let’s wait and see what they do."

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale drilling and possible associated fees?

"I like the premise that it comes back to the municipality and the county instead
of (it all) going back to Harrisburg in the general fund. Who better to make the
decisions with that than the municipalities and the county?

"It’s important that people personally affected by the boom be considered first. It’s a quality-of-life issue. I think we’ve been good, responsible stewards so far— especially with our parks and making sure drillers are accountable and responsible as well."

Harlan Shober (D)
Currently serving as chairman of the State Association of Township Supervisors
Finance Committee, Shober has various experiences in both business and government.

He previously served as chairman for the Chartiers Township Board of Supervisors and served 12 years as a Chartiers Houston School director. He has been the president of the Washington County Builders Association and has owned and operated his own home construction business for nearly 12 years. He had managed technical support and sales with AT&T for 32 years.

Why are you running?

"I believe I have the vision and the proven experience to lead Washington County. When I plan to build homes for people, you need to stick to that plan, and acknowledge that this project is their sole issue—you have to recognize that
planning and serving residents’ issues is quite similar.

I will always investigate what I don’t know. If I do know it in my experience, I can weigh in on it, yet if I don’t, I need to make sure it’s the right way."


What are your feelings about the pending property tax reassessment?

"I’m not jumping out saying we have to reassess. I build homes. I know the older
homes are being assessed at a pretty high rate. If a reassessment happens, those older homes are going to go up.

"We need to ask who’s going to be impacted and how we can mitigate the potential negative affects of those who have it happen that way. Eight million dollars is a lot of money. Where do we get $8 million back after it’s done? We need the state to step up their job.

The school districts are saying, ‘We need money,’ and my question is ‘What do they expect of this?’ because they’re supposed to be neutral. It would be nice to take one school like Washington or Trinity (and use that data) to see where we can go. It’s setting up the market values that takes the time. After that, we can apply the formula. We need to be ready for that regardless. There are things you can do while things are going on in Harrisburg."

What is your stance on Marcellus Shale drilling and possible associated fees?

"Whatever comes down, I want a long-term structure—for fire, police, roads, and the environment. It needs to come back to the community affected. We have to make sure the right controls are in place to make sure it goes where it belongs."

Editor's Note: Check back with Peters Patch Tuesday for a preview of the race for Washington County District Attorney.