Candidates explain why they’re best for Position 3

This is our second installment of questions posed to candidates for Douglas County commissioner. Yesterday, the candidates for Position 1 answered our question. Today, Commissioner Doug Robertson and his Position 3 challengers, Rich Raynor, John Ayer and Mike Folino, answer the same question.

The candidates are allowed up to 200 words to answer the question. They can also add an additional 100 words for answers appearing online at www.newsreview.info.

<b>Question: </b>

Why are you the best person to lead Douglas county over the next four years?


<b>Doug Robertson

(incumbent)</b>

While the county will face many challenges over the next four years, there are two dominant issues. First, is the challenge to make sure the federal government lives up to its obligation to resource-dependent counties like ours by continuing to provide dollars to help support basic services such as public safety. As a vice president of the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, I feel I can continue to successfully represent Douglas County on this issue nationally. I am confident because my efforts, along with many others over the last seven years, have accounted for over $300 million coming back to Douglas County from the federal government. Those are the dollars that have kept our tax rate for county services among the lowest in the state, and those same basic services at acceptable levels.

The second challenge involves federal forest management. As president of the Association of O&C Counties, I have worked with the BLM to make sure that its new plans for managing the O&C lands address the requirements of the O&C Act, include the environmental protections the public supports, and provides jobs and resources from forest management to support basic services our citizens deserve and require.

We will also be required to look at opportunities to recognize and downsize several of our county departments. Fifteen years ago, I helped appoint a financially conservative budget committee. I began working with them to make sure the county started building reserves in its general fund and road fund. Today, because of those efforts, the county has over $100 million in reserve funds. More importantly, those funds will give us the time necessary to make sure our budget decisions are fair and protect the public by keeping services like law enforcement, libraries, and veteran services intact.

<b>Rich Raynor</b>

I believe our government was designed to function best when elected officials serve for a limited time, then return to “the real world.” My opponent was elected to office three months after I got married and I now have three grandchildren by the youngest of my three children, and he’s still there. It would be best for him to move on to other things.

I will bring a fresh, private enterprise perspective and new enthusiasm to the Board of Commissioners. Through my service as a Realtor in various capacities and life experiences as a small business owner and employee, I have developed the skills and desire to be a strong advocate for the people of this county.

I realize that restrictive, unreasonable land use laws, overreaching timber harvest restrictions and overzealous governmental intrusion into our affairs are being applied by outside forces that limit our ability to support our families and improve our quality of life. Though I am willing to work with people of good will to reach a reasonable agreement, I will not compromise when it will be harmful to the people of Douglas County. I will do my best to treat everyone equally and respectfully.

<b>John Ayer</b>

I know the problems. I know what’s going to happen and I don’t think the present commissioner is cognizant of the facts. He’s living in a dream world of the safety net.

I have attended the meetings for eight years. I have got the county map. I got the agenda changed. A lot of people were upset about that. I got the parking down by the library so anybody could park there.

The commissioner, Robertson, doesn’t talk to the people very much. When he was chairman, he imposed a two-minute time limit. I wasn’t in favor of that. I said I wanted five minutes.

There are a lot of things that could be rectified and I feel I would be a better person because I know these things. He doesn’t know about county government. Now, he talks a lot but he really doesn’t know about county government.

I think Doug Robertson is a big spender. He wasn’t elected to spend money. He spent $500,000 for the dog shelter. Commissioner Kittelman said $100,000. I would have said about $75,000 or $50,000. He also gave $250,000 for the Winston Community Shelter. They spend money and then they talk about cutting the budget.

<b>Mike Folino</b>

I have been in business for myself for 30 years and have done very well. Unless a person has actually been through a time when there is no work and no paycheck, they have no idea how difficult it is to manage finances through the hard times.

I am capable of making the necessary decisions to bring the budget back into balance without more taxes and fees. Using early retirement and attrition are ways to help bring the budget into balance. It will be a difficult task, as cuts may be necessary, but it will lead to a healthier, more productive government.

It's simple: You cannot spend more than you have coming in. That is how a family and business has to operate. Bringing fiscal responsibility will be one of my first priorities.

We should have started tightening the belt several years ago, instead of sticking our heads in the sand thinking the gravy train would never end. I will work to make a smaller, more efficient and less intrusive government.

Economic development and diversification are the answers to our future, as opposed to government hand-outs. We need to help businesses, (those) existing and those wanting to locate in Douglas County. Cut the bureaucracy and streamline the process. This is where my ability to apply common sense will be useful.

I am the only one willing to run a campaign without donations, so I will not owe anyone favors or promises. I will work for all of the people, not just special interest groups. I am not a politician.

I can work with most anyone who is honest and I will work to help Douglas County keep its future stable.


<i>Note: A portion of Mike Folino's response was originally omitted from the online version story. The response appears in its entirety above. </i>