Statement on Upcoming Election

Commissioner Mark W. Smith's Statement on Upcoming Election

November 5, 2011

As election day draws closer, letters to the editor and the attacks on the candidates have made their way to the pages of the local papers. Even more concerning is a widespread mail piece which misconstrues decisions I've made while in office. That piece of mail, sent out by the Republican Party, attempts to frame me as a job killer and even pictures President Barack Obama as it maligns my record as your commissioner.

I experienced such negative attacks in the last commissioners’ election and was ultimately able to rise above them. I hope voters in this election follow me once again in taking the high road to make our county a better place to live. I hope you, as voters, support what I believe, not as a Democrat or a Republican, but as people who reject the nasty politics that we see in Washington and in Harrisburg. We do not need to bring it into this county.

The other candidates in this election have decided to bring a darker side of politics into the county election cycle. By misconstruing the facts, and attacking my character and accomplishments, they attempt to make themselves look better by tarnishing the way people view me. There is no better example than the Clean and Green issue that came about a few years ago.

Clean and Green was a simple issue. The existing state law did not allow the county to change the policy on rollbacks for gas drilling. The law needed to be changed to allow it. I thought long and hard about my decision on the matter. But at the end of the day I read the law, the county attorney read the law, and I believed I had no choice, but to follow the law. Even if my decision was unpopular with some and meant it would be used against me in the election, it was the right decision as the person elected to do the county’s business in accordance with the law.

The fact is, I worked long and hard to see that the state law was changed. I worked on it not only as a commissioner for Bradford County, but also as an elected board member of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

I took an oath of office. I believe in it. I believe it is my job to follow the law. That oath is to you, the people I serve, and it is an oath under God. I take it seriously and I have served by it steadfastly.

Another great example of twisted political statements has been about my role in a tax raise in 2008. There is no doubt taxes needed to be adjusted, and as chairman of the commissioners, I had to do it. There is no politician on earth that would want to raise taxes, especially their first year in office. However, the truth is the tax raise was a small adjustment to the levy and was probably one of the smallest ever. It equaled approximately $19.00 per year increase on a house assessed at $100,000. It has been the only increase since 2008, and it is far less than the tax increase voted for by the previous board of commissioners just a few years prior.

Unfortunately, decisions made prior to my first year in office presented significant budget challenges which included a diminished fund balance, a nursing home that was losing money, an overpriced and failed 911 readdressing project, and nearly $1 million of no bid contracts, just to name a few. These issues forced a tax increase and other tough actions such as layoffs and the closing of daycare facilities. None of those decisions were easy, they are not decisions one wants to make, but they are decisions a county commissioner has to make. As a responsible commissioner, you cannot operate the county on convenient, politically savvy soundbites and headlines. Over the last three years, I have worked tirelessly to see that these issues were resolved. Each one of these issues, and many more, have been resolved. To be successful you have to make real business decisions and, the fact is, that sometimes they hurt, but they still have to be done.

I have repeatedly been attacked on my views for a tax or fee on natural gas development that would benefit our local communities. My stance on the development of natural gas in our county has remained the same since the beginning of their development. I believe the county, local municipalities, and emergency responders should receive revenue from the industry to cover the financial impact natural gas development puts on these entities. I have been lobbying for that since the outset of the issue. I have lobbied both Democrats and Republicans at the state level.

We are experiencing incredible growth at a breakneck pace. That is a good situation. However we need to be realistic and address the growing pains along with the growth. That means addressing issues such as long term economic development, an increasing prison population, a growing need for emergency responders, and to ensure a continued commitment to our county’s infrastructure needs.

I find no shame in wanting more for our county. I find no shame in wanting more for our local townships and boroughs. I find no shame in wanting more for our emergency responders. It is my job as commissioner to see that our county, our communities, and our volunteers come first. That should be the job of every county commissioner.

People often ask me, especially in times like these, how I work in an environment with people who would rather tear me apart for their own gain than to partner with me for the good of our county. They want to know why I don’t levy the same sort of attacks and accusations. My answer is simple; I don’t want to be the man who tears others down. I don’t want to promote myself on the backs of others. If on Tuesday I am unsuccessful at this election because I failed to run my opponents into the ground, then so be it.

I will be happy with the person I chose to be in the election. I will always be proud of the opportunity I was given to serve the people of this county as chairman of the commissioners. I will forever be proud to be a young man who grew up in a trailer in Ridgebury with a single father and three sisters, and despite the odds, I was elected. I was elected to a job that I consider gratifying. I was elected to serve my community.

In this business of politics it is accepted that attacks will come. I have endured them before and made it through an election successfully. However, I still believe candidates can be elected by promoting their positive accomplishments, rather than attacking others. I don't want politics in Bradford County to resemble what we see in Harrisburg and Washington.

There are some who believe in the darker side of campaigning and think that is what politics should be. I disagree. That is why I don't engage in that kind of campaigning. I state what I believe. I state my accomplishments. I want to let my record and my character speak for itself. I believe that is the right way to run for office.

It makes me proud to serve as a commissioner knowing that I did my job and ran my campaign with integrity. I ask you to join me in continuing to make Bradford County a place in which we value building each other up, rather than tearing each other down.

Best Regards,

Mark W. Smith

Smith for Commissioner Pig Roast Fundraiser

Smith For Commissioner Pig Roast Fundraiser has been Rescheduled due to the flooding! New date and time below!

Sunday, October 2nd from 1:00pm-4:00pm

Cost: $20.00 All you can Eat

Location: Ridgebury Sportsmens Club, 961 Centerville Rd. (Ridgebury Township)

For Tickets/RSVP Contact: Mark Smith 570-867-1757
mark.votesmith2011@gmail.com

Bloomberg "Energy Now" Reports From Bradford County

Democratic Spring Dinner

I gave the following speech tonight at the Democratic Spring Dinner:

Just over three years ago I was sworn in as your Bradford County Commissioner. It has been a pleasure, a challenge, an opportunity and a blessing. First, I want to give credit to one of the best men that I have ever come to know, John Sullivan. Serving with him has been an honor. He is generally known as the laid back guy, funny; always quick with a joke. Whether they be funny or not? Now that’s debatable. But seriously, I have enjoyed working with him to the utmost and we should be proud that he gave eight years of service in the commissioner’s office.

I have also had the opportunity to work with a great staff in our commissioners’ office and across the rest of our county workforce. In the past few years I have been able to take a lead role in many great projects to improve our county government and our county overall. Some accomplishments I am most proud of include;

Working with the warden to create Bradford County’s Community Workforce Inmate Program. This program puts inmates to work improving communities across Bradford County and it is working. To date we have put nearly 1,000 hours of inmate labor into many different projects across the county and we just approved several more for this year. We also utilize inmate labor for laundry, printing and other general county labor needs. Using inmates in the county workforce saves taxpayer dollars and our inmate work program is good for both the communities and the inmates alike.

Over the past few years we have been implementing a guaranteed energy savings project which is now in the construction phase. Replacing antiquated heating and cooling systems, windows and utilizing energy generated by the Solid Waste Authority are just a few pieces of this large project to save on energy costs for the county.

As a county we have created a grant program from revenues received at the Solid Waste Authority to aid in environmental education, to fund our county parks, and most importantly to help fund local emergency responders.

We have taken Bradford County to a new level in terms of utilizing technology to better inform and communicate with county residents. We redesigned our county website and created a monthly e-mail newsletter.

As a member of the Bradford County Tourism Committee I have been proud to use room tax money to help fund our most sacred community events such as the Troy Fair and the Wyalusing wine festival. I have been proud to be a part of a committee that is able to use those funds to help enhance organizations across Bradford County such as the LeRoy Heritage Museum, and the Bradford County Historical Society.

Recently we read about how several other commissioner candidates do not support a hotel room tax. All of us should be opposed to their ideas, especially now, as we all know these hotels are occupied in large part by the gas industry. The gas industry does not need a Mclinko/Miller sponsored tax break at the expense of our precious community events and resources. We need the ability to invest every penny we can to keep our communities maintained, strong, and vibrant.

The fiscal situation of our county, despite our new challenges, remains strong. Our beloved Bradford County Manor is doing better than ever, financially and operationally. Our debt is one of the lowest in the state and we have an excellent bond rating.

However, all of the positive work that has been done in the administrative aspects of county government, an improved fund balance, county infrastructure improvement, whatever it may be; it all falls under the long shadow of this county’s most challenging, most prolific, most debated issue; the development of Marcellus Shale natural gas development.

Bradford County now has the lowest unemployment rate in the Commonwealth. There is no doubt the development has brought with it economic prosperity and wealth for some but it has brought many challenges for others. There is no doubt it is redefining our government services, our economy, our people and our countryside. It is true and now readily apparent the economic prosperity comes at a cost of its own.

This development carries with it controversial issues surrounding the overall impact on our local communities and how we deal with those impacts. Our once quiet county has been thrust forth into a statewide, and sometimes a national debate, about natural gas development and its overall implications.

In our commissioners race we are hearing candidates from the other side proudly state their opposition to any sort of tax or impact fee on natural gas companies. Yet, here we sit in the most drilled in county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are experiencing the most impact and that impact could not be more obvious; the costs could not be more obvious.

How can we responsibly provide for our local development and protection without revenues generated by an impact fee or tax? How can commissioner candidates be looking out for what is best for Bradford County if they oppose something as basic as an impact fee, now being proposed by members of their own party?

Those candidates are behind in their thinking and our county cannot afford to remain behind. We must continue pushing ahead for ourselves and for our generations. We must continue to fight.

We need the resources to meet our new challenges head on. This is too big, this is too important. This is about trying to hold on to the lifestyle. It is about getting back the quality of life to which we are accustomed. It is to ensure our roads are taken care of. It is to ensure that the people and their property are protected. It is to ensure the water that comes out of their faucet is protected.

South of here in our state capitol we are watching the work of Governor Corbett take shape. His Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission led by Lt. Governor Jim Cawley is excluding Bradford County and others like it from being a part of the commission’s official work. However, this administration has felt it appropriate to place a billionaire, whose residence is listed in Florida, on the Commission. I think that says it all. It is perhaps the most insulting blow Harrisburg has ever dealt Bradford County and to the northern tier of Pennsylvania. It is a move that all residents should be outraged over.

Our state legislators, whose job it is to be our voice, are cowering with locked lips. In no way have they expressed disapproval of this action by Corbett and Cawley to exclude their most affected districts, in some instances they have defended it. I ask; How can this be? How is it that the changing lives of our residents mean less to them than the political machine for which they have become a part?

As Democrats I think we have a unique opportunity to be the ones that fight for rural Pennsylvania. Recently I have been talking, sometimes very bluntly, to Democratic legislators in Harrisburg trying to convey to them that there is important work to be done here; That they have an opportunity and responsibility to serve rural Pennsylvania at a time when the Republican administration is casting our county out as irrelevant.

We should take this opportunity to be the political party listening and working for the people. We should strive to be the party of the people; the ones that works the hardest, the one that seeks out the best ideas.We need to be the ones bringing a fair and reasonable balance between business, profits, economic prosperity, and jobs while safeguarding our heritage, health, and environment.

Ladies and gentlemen, this opportunity has, presented itself and we must take it. The Corbett and Cawley administration has decided to embrace a multi-billion dollar industry. In doing so they have let loose of the peoples’ best interests. They are ours for the taking. So I encourage Democrats across the state to grab on, fight for us here in this county. And we must remember as local Democrats to never let go, to never let up, to never cower, to never cede the best interests of our neighbors, friends and families here in Bradford County.

My Letter to Tom Corbett concerning Natural Gas Issues

Dear Governor Corbett,

Issue after issue has arisen in Bradford County in relation to the development of natural gas in Bradford County. Most recently there was a major incident involving a well blowout in Leroy Township, Bradford County. This major incident is just one more issue our county is dealing with in regards to the development of the Marcellus Shale.
I have a number of concerns I would like to address in relation to these important issues that are unfolding in the county I was elected to represent.

DEP officials are quoted in the media as saying they spend as little as 35 minutes to approve each gas well permit. This is an appalling statistic considering the significant operations and impact of a natural gas drilling site and even more appalling considering that there have been nearly 2,000 gas wells permitted in Bradford County.

In recent weeks it has been reported that DEP is now requiring Marcellus Shale violations to be approved by top DEP officials before being levied on gas companies. This practice strikes at the heart of the integrity of that organization. It does irreparable damage to the local areas in the Marcellus Shale with the environmental damage that has become an everyday reality in Bradford County.

Well water contamination in Bradford County is a real and serious issue that is affecting residents’ quality of life, livelihoods, families, and property values. Water buffalos, temporary water storage tanks, now lay claim to peoples’ front yards as a stark reminder of the extreme negative impact that natural gas development is having on our local communities.

Last year I put forth much effort working for a severance tax that would include an equitable share for local communities. It was a failed attempt but a sincere effort to ensure our county is taken care of through this development. I continue to see our county, townships, and boroughs struggle with complex issues of development with no financial or logistical support from the Commonwealth. Emergency responders, volunteers, state and local police and dispatchers are working at a break neck pace to respond to immense traffic accident increases, well site accidents, and other related issues.

I have heard politicians in complete favor of the gas industry use the phrase, “We don’t want to kill the golden goose”. I would like to state, for the record, that the “Golden Goose” does not exist. It is no more part of reality than the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, or the Easter Bunny.

Lastly, I would like to address the outstanding issue regarding Bradford County’s lack of representation on your appointed Marcellus Shale Commission. Bradford County has had the unique experience of being the most drilled in county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Yet, despite that fact, no one from our county was appointed to your commission. The fact our county was not taken into consideration is a direct insult to our county.

I have been working to, at least, find a way for some of our agencies to be heard by the commission or one of its work groups. To date I have not been successful. I have called and e-mailed the Lt. Governor’s Office and tried working through one of our state representatives to no avail. What a shame that a county with the most experience dealing with the impact of natural gas development seems to have been blackballed from comment to what will be your basis for setting Marcellus Shale policy.

I ask you to take our county and others like it seriously as you move forward setting policy in regards to Marcellus Shale development. The economic benefit of this development is unquestionable. However, it is also unquestionable that when left unattended, the negatives outweigh the positives quickly and heavily.

Press Release for Guidelines for Commissioners Meetings

Guidelines for Commissioners Meetings "At the Bradford County Commissioners’ meeting held on April 14, 2011, Chairman Mark W. Smith implemented guidelines for conduct at Commissioners’ meetings. These new guidelines are meant to ensure that members of the public have equal opportunity to address the Board of Commissioners in a timely manner and that each person is heard respectfully. In past meetings there have been cases of disrespectful behavior, people interrupting each other, talking out of turn and speaking for long periods of time about many different subjects. Furthermore, Bradford County Commissioners’ meetings are open meetings to conduct the business of Bradford County government; they are not forums for political campaigning. Commissioner Smith would like to remind all candidates, incumbents and challengers, that the Bradford County Commissioners’ meetings are not the place for campaigning. Citizens who wish to speak at a commissioners’ meeting are asked to sign in before the start of the meeting, giving their name, address, and topic of discussion. Residents may also call the Commissioners office to request to be put on the list for visitors’ remarks. These guidelines are important to make sure that each citizen is heard, respected and recognized."

What's up right now?

Currently attending the Marcellus Shale Commission's Public Health, Safety, and Environmental Protection workgroup meeting.


- Posted from my iPhone