The Issues

Throughout the campaign I will be posting important information regarding my position on issues critical to the future of Berks County. Please check back often.

Sincerely,

CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY
We need to make sure that Berks County is no longer a haven for criminals and thugs. Drugs and the influx of illegal immigrants plays a major role in crime in our county.

It is important to listen to our local experts when developing a plan for fighting and reducing crime in Berks County. Before seeking the advice of people outside of our county, I will first work with our local and state police, the sheriff's office, the District Attorney, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, County Constables, the FBI, the US Attorney's office, the courts and local leaders to find ways to keep our neighborhoods safe. We need both short-term and long-term solutions. I will also work with our fire companies and EMS teams to provide better communication between departments, the police and county emergency management. We need to START Reducing Crime!

JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I will make Berks County more business-friendly so that existing businesses have the opportunity to expand and new companies want to locate here. It is important to work with our local economic development organizations to attract new businesses and increase job opportunities for our children and grandchildren. Next to managing the county budget, well-planned economic development is the single greatest function of county government.

There are four key steps to spur further economic growth:

1. Provide strong leadership to further unify economic development efforts in Berks County. My leadership will provide the following: a clear prioritization of projects and development efforts; a solid private/public funding base for economic development projects by looking beyond the normal public funding channels; and pull together the legislative power of our elected officials at all levels of government.
2. Commit to the Route 222 North project as the single most important transportation project in Berks County.
3. Work cooperatively with all levels of educational institutions to ensure a well-educated and available workforce trained in the skills most needed by industry. I will work with our colleges to attract their best graduates to take jobs here in Berks to fight the current brain-drain.
4. Provide both short and long-term solutions to crime. Public perception is reality, and if this issue is not successfully dealt with, it will cost us in both economic growth and jobs.

MUNICIPAL COOPERATION, DEVELOPMENT AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
I will work with municipalities, county planners, farmers, builders and conservationists to ensure a well-balanced plan of growth for Berks County that respects private property rights while also protecting the natural resources that are so much a part of the heritage and character of our county.

FARMLAND PRESERVATION
I have committed to work aggressively with the farmland preservation efforts to do the following.

1. Work to find other funding sources for the program.
2. Continue the existing efforts of cooperation between The Conservancy, Home Builders, Farm Bureau and Chamber.
3. Work with our local legislators and County Commissioner's Association of PA to eliminate property tax as means of raising revenue in this state. No other issue would do more to preserve the family farm then the elimination of property tax.