Politics & Government

Marcellus Shale, Property Tax Reassessment Dominate Forum

The League of Women Voters of Washington County featured candidates for Washington County commissioner and common pleas court judge.

Marcellus Shale drilling regulations and Washington County's looming property tax reassessment were the focus of much of the debate at a forum featuring  and  at Washington & Jefferson College Monday.

The forum, hosted by The League of Women Voters of Washington County, first featured the two candidates for common pleas judge—Republican Lane Turturice and Democrat Gary Gilman.

In his opening statement, Turturice touted his hometown roots and the importance of family values, adding that he and his wife were the proud parents of three, with a fourth on the way.

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He said his work ethic and work experience in various areas of law will serve him well if elected as the next judge of Washingon County—and he said that tax reassessment, Marcellus Shale drilling and the rising rate of crime would be confronting the county in the next 10 years.

"I truly believe I am the only candidate who can handle those tough issues," Tuturice said.

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He emphasized that a successful judge must have a good temperment—adding that in a job where people stand when you walk into a room, the post must be handled with "humility and humor."

"Treat everybody as a gentleman not because they are, but because you are," Tuturice quoted.

Adding that he believed that both judges and the system to file family-related court paperwork need to be more accessible, Turturice said he'd like to see an e-file system implemented.

In closing, Turturice said his experience sets him apart from his opponent, noting that Gilman has tried only 45 civil cases in Wasington County—and only two of those were from 1992.

Meanwhile, Turturice has tried more than 700 civil cases, which he said, "does not include the thousands of criminal cases" he handled as an assistant district attrorney.

He then said that—with respect to the Gilman family—that electing him one mean putting one-third of the judicial power in the county in the hands of one family. Gilman's wife is Washington County Judge Katherine Emery.

But despite experience, sometimes, he said, you have to rely on your faith, too.

"I would rely heavily on my faith," Tuturice said. "Sometimes you just have to pray about it and follow your heart."

In his opening statement, Gilman spoke about his 23 years of legal experience, the first half in Washington County and the second in Allegheny County as a master hearing officer.

He said in that capacity he hears "complex divorce, support and alimony cases," and said the post is very similar to that of a judge.

"I think my 11 years as a master hearing offer is very valuable," Gilman said, adding that he was named by the Washington County Bar Association as the highest recommended candidate for judge. "When you go to law school there are no classes on how to be a judge."

He also emphasized the need for a judge to be a good listener.

"I've learned how to be a good listener," Gilman said. "Sometimes it's based on what's not said than what is said."

He said that if elected, he, too, would like to see the courts be more accessible—especially to those working during traditional business hours. Gilman said that many of the people involved in family court-related matters are unrepresented and would be, perhaps, better served if there were later office hours.

If elected, Gilman said he'd also like to see judges on the bench implement a mentoring program for new lawyers.

"Young lawyers, I often see, are lost," he said, adding that some guidance could help them be more effective and efficient in the courtroom.

Reiterating that impartiality was one of the most important characteristics of a judge, he again emphasized his experience as a master hearing officer.

"You're not taught how to sit in judgment," he said. "I don't think Washington County deserves to have someone learning on the job."

After a short break, the four candidates for commissioner, Republicans Diana Irey Vaughan and Bill Northrop, and Democrats Larry Maggi and Harlan Shober took the stage. Questions posed were both prepared by the league and accepted from the audience for the commissioner portion.

But two areas dominated the discussion Monday: Gov. Tom Corbett's recent proposal regarding a local impact fee for Marcellus Shale drilling, and the subject of Washington County's looming property tax reassessment.

Asked if they were in favor of going through with the court-mandated property tax reassessment, the two inbumbent candidates, Vaughn and Maggi, were clear: They oppose reassessment.

"Reassessment is bad—it's a bad system. It's a horrible system," Maggi said. "I'm totally against reassessment."

He said that with recent action in the Legislature, the county should wait and see what comes of that before embarking on reassessment.

Vaughan agreed.

, adding that she felt it would be prudent to allow that process to continue before embarking on a reassessment that would cost $8 million and take about 30 months to complete.

"I don't want to waste $8 million of taxpayer dollars when there is hope that the reassessment problem with be fixed."

Northrop said that while the matter is now before a judge, who will decide whether the county will proceed with the reassessment or not, it has been 30 years since the last one.

"Sooner or later something has to be done," he said. "You have to bite the bullet."

Shober said he had concerns about an immediate property tax reassessment, and especially how the older population would handle a possible hike in taxes from implementing it, saying nobody in this economy is easily able to handle that extra burden.

On the subject of Marcellus Shale, the commissioner candidates were asked if they were Marcellus Shale lease holders or investors.

"I knew there would be something to set me apart," Shober said with a smile after the other three candidates indicated that no, they were not leaseholders or investors.

He said he had leased 2.2 acres of property to Range Resources.

Candidates were then asked about a whether or not municipal officials' leases with natural gas companies presented a conflict of interest when trying to develop policy regarding Marcellus Shale drilling—citing a recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story detailing the matter.

"To suggest otherwise is just silly," Northrop said. "It creates a huge problem for you."

Maggi said that while he is not a lease holder, that commissioners deal with many issues that could be conflicts of interest—and in those cases it's best to abstain.

"Everything we do is in a glass house," Maggi said.

Shober agreed, saying that he has been careful to abstain from certain votes during his tenure as a Chartiers Township supervisor.

Then there was the subject of Corbett's Marcellus Shale plan, which would give the county control over a portion of a local impact fee imposed by the state—and whether or not more county park property should be leased for drilling.

Shober shared his experiences in Chartiers Township, and said that, as a commissioner, one would need to weigh the economic benefits over the environmental ones.

Vaughan said that whether or not to lease more property for drilling is site-specific, and needs to be carefully mulled.

As for the local impact fee, Maggi said he was in favor of such a plan because "it's bringing money back to where the impact is" instead of it getting stuck in what he called the "Harrisburg abyss."

Shober, who said he's been dealing with Marcellus Shale-related issues for years because of Range Resources' 57 wells and MarkWest's compressor stations, said he would have preferred to see a plan that set forth a severance tax.

"An impact fee is only going to be for 10 years people," he said, adding that the effects of drilling could be felt by local communities for years after that.

"I'm glad to see something's happening, but let's look at the long-term," Shober added.

Vaughan echoed those statements.

"The impact fee is a start, but we need to bring in money for the long-term," she said, adding that she would have preferred to see a "tiered system" implemented related to the local impact fee.

Vaughan also said she believed that the money would need to be spread out, because while some communities might not have wells in their neighborhoods, they still deal with Marcellus Shale-related issues from nearby municipalities with active drill sites.

Northrop said the pros of drilling "are pretty obvious to all" and that he hopes much of the money raised through a local impact fee or tax of Marcellus Shale drilling will go toward infrastructure projects—adding that Washington County has a number of aging weight-restricted bridges in need of rehauls.

And he cautioned about overburdening the oil and gas companies.

"You run the risk—if you overtax—of running people out of the state," he said, adding that he was in favor or a severance tax over a local impact fee.


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