There are races for County Commission in two districts, the first and the third. There are no Republicans running in the second district, so Greg Brooks, Isaac (Buster) Bramblett and Mike Curbow will breeze through the Aug. 5 election.

Candidates with races were asked why they think they would make a good commissioner, the top priorities for the county, the biggest problems, how the commission can help improve the county, changes they would like to see in the future and why voters should choose them. Their answers are paraphrased below.

First District

Democrat

Mark Bishop, 47, Benton. Graduate of PCHS, Cleveland State. Works for Bradley Propane. Serves on Parks & Rec committee, state director for Dizzy Dean 11-12 year olds. Has served 12 years on the county commission in two separate terms.

I have served three terms, worked on the budget every year, and was budget committee chairman the past four years. I grew up in a family business for 20 years. The county is essentially a business, just on a larger scale. I have good math skills and can work with numbers.

We need to try to do some maintenance on the Courthouse and school buildings, such as Benton and Chilhowee, which have serious problems. I don’t know what we can do to help, but we need to try to do work on county buildings within the financial restraints we’ve got.

The biggest problem is growing the economy. We don’t have a strong tax base and just 50% of land is taxable. That causes a higher tax rate. We’ve got a $23.5 million debt that will be with us for 20 years so we’re prohibited from doing a lot of maintenance on buildings. Until we get the debt down, it will be hard to make some necessary improvements.

We need to try to be good stewards of the funds and resources we have, to use them as efficiently as we can to get the most out of the funding we have.

The most important change would be more of an industrial base so all the tax burden is not on residential property. We need more restaurants and other businesses so people don’t have to go out of the county to get the things they need. I would like to see us get more businesses to become more self sufficient, less dependent on our neighbors. Right now, we are dependent on surrounding areas for employment and the vast majority of what we buy and use. It will take time, but hopefully we can move away from that.

I have the experience to make the decisions we’re going to have to make. My 12 years of experience have helped me better understand county government and the budget process. It takes a while to get an understanding of how it all works. I have an understanding of all the processes and I know people we can contact to get help with things.

Buster Lewis, 55, Benton. Working at Crystal Geyser. County commissioner since 1998, has been a member of West Polk Fire & Rescue. GED from Cleveland State, some college courses.

I have had a lot of experience and have worked on all the different budgets and tried to hold the tax rates as low as we could and still get by. I know most everybody in the district and they know me.

The top priority is surviving. We try to provide all the services we can for the people and keep the tax rate as low as we can and provide good service.

Right now, the biggest problem is not enough money coming in to do everything we’d like to do. There are thousands of things we could do if we had extra money. We can’t be everything to everybody.

The commission needs to try to get in more businesses and improve the infrastructure.

We’re at a tipping point. We need to grow but don’t have money. It would probably help if things did grow some but sometimes growth can cause problems too. We need to have controlled growth.

Hopefully, I have helped people solve problems, although times we have not been able to. I am willing to listen to good ideas. I get a lot of input from the community and sometimes pick up good ideas of things to do, try to do, to help everybody.

John Pippenger, 36, Benton. Graduate of PCHS, Bachelor’s from UTC, two AA degrees from Cleveland State, Master’s degree in police administration. Retired on disability from Benton police department. Served as county commissioner since 1998. Member of Conasauga Lodge, support Boy Scouts, WPFR and other organizations.

I talk to people all over the district on a regular basis. I have an open door policy and get calls from my district and other districts and help people get information. I understand the budget process and know how to determine expected revenues. I can balance the needs and wants with the tax rate to the best of my ability. I take time to research what comes up before I vote.

Top priorities are keeping the jobs we currently have and trying, even in this economy, to create more jobs. We need to keep the tax rate low so people can afford to live here and not have those who can’t pay. Corridor K is a major project. We need to keep pushing for it. There is a growing number of veterans and we need to try to help all we can through the Veteran’s Affairs office. Everything’s an issue. I still feel we should do all we can to get reimbursement from the rafting industry.

A key problem is that we’re sitting on more than 50% federal land. They make a payment in lieu of taxes but it’s not what it should be, and we can’t use that property to increase growth. It divides the county and hampers us from selling the whole county. We have no transportation that makes it accessible for industry to want to come here and we’re in the corner of the state, which makes it hard for business to access.

The commission needs to keep an eye on the ball to keep the tax rate low, to try to find ways to bring services to the people as cheaply as possible, to find the cheapest adequate service in our bids.

I would like to see more industry, to find a way to market the county with something unique that can meet business needs. It all links back to the dollar, the tax rate and what we can provide.

I’ll watch the county’s money, try to balance how much money needs to go for needed service. I’ll keep an open door policy. Citizens can call and I will get back to them with information.

Republican

James Woody, 66, Benton. GED, owner/operator of Woody’s Lock & Key. Served on the Election Commission for ten years.

I think considering the state of the economy as well as the number of people without jobs, I know what they’re looking at from my life experience. I see people having to stretch their dollars for necessities. The elderly are facing problems because of no Social Security increases. I know we need to stretch our tax dollars. There will be some tough choices that have to be made and someone is going to have to make them. I know I could make those choices for the benefit of the county, not myself or my party. I love Polk County, I’m proud of it. Our young people are an asset through sports and other activities, such as Mr. Dewey’s group. They should make us all proud. I want to see Polk County do well. The national problems will reach us and we need to be ready. We’re strapped anyway and need to do with what little we do have to avoid a tax burden. Commissioners serve on boards and committees and are influential or being influenced by those committees or persons. We need to look at the well-being of the county above all.

I see the county as a bedroom community. Our vision of industrialization is in the past. We should be open minded but there were opportunities in the past when the powers that be didn’t want industry. It’s passed us by. We’re having subdivisions coming in and need to help get them off the ground -- the county needs to set guidelines so everybody knows what the rules are. We have a lot of non-productive farmland that would make beautiful home sites

The biggest problem I can think of is the tax burden, having revenues to cover our needs. The rafting deal needs to be settled one way or the other. I was disappointed with the legislature not getting it done. We need everybody working together.

To improve, we need to reach down for our wisdom. If there is a problem, we need to ask someone who has expertise to get the knowledge to make a judgment. I don’t know everything but I’m not afraid to ask for help. I would be open minded.

It will take all of us working together. There may be people with better ideas. We need more people getting involved in county government.

I would bring wisdom and maturity to the commission. I have a background of 35 years in business. I work with people in their homes and businesses; I see them under all kinds of conditions. I see people from all over Tennessee and ask them questions. I have been to other counties, talked to people, see what they do and wonder if it could work here. We live in the best county in the best country in the world. I want to see it continue to be a good place to raise our children, to see them have the same benefits we’ve had. I know it will be a while before we get out from under our debt. I want the next generation to enjoy life like we did.

Third District

Democrat

Daniel Deal, 26, Copperhill. Graduate of CBHS, works as a concrete finisher, volunteers as t-ball coach, 4 years on the county commission.

I think I’m a good commissioner because I voice my opinion if I don’t agree with something. I feel I work well with the other commissioners. I care about Polk County. I have lived here all my life and want to have a say-so in it.

We need to get more industry on both ends of the county. I would love to have a least one plant with 100 jobs on each side of the county. We need development while still keeping the beauty of the mountains. I wish we had more places to eat in the county.

We need more revenue to improve county buildings and to improve the parks and rec facilities – they’re running down.

The commission can help improve the county by listening to what the people want and figure out how they want to pay for it. Nobody wants a wheel tax.

I would like the county to grow, both with industry and homes. We need to keep up the buildings we’ve got, like the jail and schools, all the buildings. We need to work on getting Corridor K. We need somebody to represent us in Nashville who will help the county.

A lot of people know me and they are not shy about calling and telling me what they think. I feel I have done a little over the last four years and would like to have another four years to keep learning and see what we can do.

James Talley, 49, Ducktown. Graduate of CBHS, some college courses. Works as lieutenant for Gwinnett County Fire Department, serves as Mayor of Ducktown.

I would make a good commissioner because of my years of experience working in government and with government for the last 29 years, with the last five years in local government in Ducktown

Top priorities are trying to figure out some way to get a sustainable revenue stream to keep the taxes down and pay off the debt.

The biggest issue the county has is the debt service, which is extremely high. It will be hard to come out from under it while trying to maintain a low tax rate.

The commission can help improve the county by trying to figure out ways to solicit industry, small businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in Polk County and also by supporting the industries and small businesses we have as well as tourism. We need to do what we can to get Corridor K in. That would be a big shot in the arm.

I would like to keep the small community mentality while bringing in tourists and entrepreneurs to improve the tax base. This is a wonderful little place to live; I don’t want to change from that but we need to plan for other amenities. We need to develop a strategic plan, soliciting input from the community on what they would like to see, and set goals for 5, 10, 20 years, then stick with the plan as much as we can, making changes with different things that might happen.

I feel I’m the best candidate for the job. With my experience I would bring a lot to the county commission in a lot of different areas, including management, fire service/EMS, experience working with regional and state government.

Daren Waters, 43, Copperhill. Graduate of CBHS, some classes at Cleveland State. Working as an aide for the school system, county commissioner since 1998, operates Ducktown community pool as a volunteer.

One big reason I’m a good commissioner is the experience I have. The longer you’re there, the more experience you have and the more you can get done. I feel I try to do what’s best for the county; I have the best interests of the county in mind. I have experience with county government in general – I work for the School System and have worked for the Road Department, so I know what it takes to operate the different branches of government. I have worked somewhere for the county since 1991.

The top priority is to try to keep a low tax rate for the propertyowners but still provide all the branches of government with the money the need to provide services in the most economical way without putting all the burden on the taxpayers. We need to find different ways to fund things rather than the property tax.

Our biggest problem is lack of industry and businesses. If we had a few more jobs in the county, more people would work here and it would help all around. We also need to try to work something out with the rafting industry, to resolve the issue and stop the back and forth we’ve had over the years with the amusement tax. We need to get something in place we can both live with.

The best way we can improve Polk County is to provide the best services we can without putting a burden on the propertyowners. We need to try to find a good way to promote Polk County, not just for tourism but also to attract business and industry. One of the biggest things would be having something done with the river road. What we got after the rockslide helped a lot but we need an alternate route. We also need to keep our youth in mind; they are our future. We need to give them a reason to want to stay in the county. It goes back to not enough jobs to hold people here. They have to travel so far to go to work. I feel we’ve done a good job with building two new high schools; now we need to concentrate on keeping kids here when they get out of school.

I’ve seen a little bit of change since I’ve been on the commission. We need to start realizing we’re all Polk County. All commissioners need to do what’s best for Polk County instead of worrying about doing things for just certain parts.

I think most everyone knows me, knows how I stand on issues, and knows I’m going to try to make the right decision for Polk County. I can’t say my decisions are always right or that I have all the answers, but I will try to do what’s best. This is where I live; my family is here. This is where I plan to stay and my family plans to stay. Every decision I make affects me just like every other citizen. I do have experience with county government, not just the county commission. I know what it takes to operate the county.

Republican

James Cearley, Ducktown, 44, 1985 graduate of CBHS, has worked with fire department for 27 years.

I would be a good county commissioner because it is time for a change. The commissioners have been in there for years. I think we need some new blood.

My top priority is trying to get businesses coming in to the county.

The biggest problems facing the county is the fact we have no businesses. Every kid that graduates has to leave t find work if they don’t go to college, and they have to drive one to two hours to get to work. In the past graduating class, maybe 20 are going to college; the rest will leave home.

The commission needs to look at trying to get companies in. I know it’s hard. Tax breaks might be the only way.

I would like to see more growth and industry on both ends of the county. Too many students leave after school and never come back. I graduated in 1985 and only see two from my class.

I think I could do the job. I know how the county operates and have been dealing with the budget requests for the fire department. I know what they’re looking for, how they operate. I know money is tight.

Randy Collins, 52, Turtletown. Graduate CBHS, self-employed working on wells, water systems, pumps. Serves on Copper Basin Medical Center Board, Scout master.
I care about the county. I want to see it grow, to see some new business come in.
The top priority is to get some business into the county so our kids don’t have to keep leaving home after they get out of high school.
The biggest problem is lack of jobs.
The county commission can help improve the county by keeping a low tax rate. Maybe we can get some outside people in with money to spend.
I would like to see some industry come in so our people wouldn’t have to commute so far to work. I would also like to see a new road built down the river. That would help this end a whole lot. The improvements have made a different but we need a new road.
I care about the county. I have lived here all my life and want to do what’s right for the county.

Sheena Gaddis: “I prefer not to do an interview.”