Published: January 14, 2008 11:58 am      

Cumberland candidates out to prove their mettle

CUMBERLAND - A love of Cumberland and the desire to see its continued growth has drawn a number of people to seek a seat on the City Council.

For some it's about giving back to a community they love, even if they left it for a while.

Jerry Chambers left Allegany County, which didn't have a facility to educate a partially blind person, which he was when he was born. He received his education in Baltimore where he married, raised his children and worked.

He returned to Cumberland 13 years ago but said it no longer can be called the Queen City with the decrease in population from 42,000 to 21,000 and the disappearance of numerous factories from The Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. to the glass companies.

"We've got to get some sort of industry here," he said. "I have no difficulty with the tourism trade, but we need others."

As one who's spent his life in the mental health profession, he said such job opportunities also help curb the drugs and gang-type development that can lead to the decay of a community.

Chambers said attracting industries must be a cooperative effort and involve Garrett County as well as nearby counties in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Jim Combs said having grown up in the city, he has the knowledge and experience to serve on the council. Overseeing finances where he works also gives him additional experience.

"This is my city," he said. "I was born here, my family is here and two of my four children and grandchildren live here."

What's most important for the city, he said, is "some type of continued growth."

Combs said growth should be "tempered," with developers dealt with on an individual basis. Currently, he said, developers ask for, and are given, almost everything.

Mary Beth Pirolozzi, the only incumbent in the race, was appointed in September to finish the unexpired term of Terry Rephann.

She said she put her name in because she wants to be "part of the next chapter of the city's growth" and she believes the future will be exciting.

"I love this community so much," Pirolozzi said. "I've lived in the city for 33 years and I feel what all of us need is to participate and give back."

Finding those economic opportunities that "keep our children and our grandchildren here" becomes her focus.

Downtown's redevelopment has been tremendous, she said, and she'd like to see it continue. Cleaning up blight has begun and that, she said, is something people can see.

Now, it's time for economic stability.

Pirolozzi remarks how fortunate the city is to have Mayor Lee Fiedler, the retired CEO of Kelly-Springfield, a Fortune 500 company. The administration has created a "stable environment" even when funds weren't available, she said.

"I will promise the people of Cumberland that I will do my very best to represent them, to listen and to respond respectfully," Pirolozzi said.

Brian Grim sees the rebirth of neighborhoods as a priority.

"We need to revitalize our neighborhoods and work with our neighbors and organizations," from all sections of the city, he said.

He finds the condition of the roads to be deplorable and said infrastructure improvements are a must.

Grim said he believes much change is possible and envies the enthusiasm he sees.

Albert Keener lists infrastructure as the top priority on his list. With potholes everywhere and a study that indicates a $63 million backlog in repairs, it's time to do something.

Keener recognizes that with a city budget of a little less than $17 million, of which about $3 million is for public works projects, other ideas are necessary. It would make sense to work with the State Highway Administration to get improvements done on roadways it maintains, such as Industrial Boulevard, he said.

He is an advocate of hiring a grants writer, who would be rewarded based on the amount of money he brings to the city.

Keener also looks at the housing stock and said blighted properties need to be replaced rather than creating new developments that require more streets to maintain and the installation of utilities. He proposes a tax abatement for removing a blighted property, where taxes would be paid only on the land for five years.

His third concern involves the residents, who deserve good-paying jobs on which they can raise a family. Higher-technology jobs are one way to do so.

"We can't just wait for people to stumble across and discover Cumberland," Keener said. "We need to be more aggressive in marketing Cumberland."

He also proposes a 5 percent cut in all departments to put that money to use for city needs.

Carol Cauley said she's running simply because change is needed and that when it comes right down to it, the city's streets make all the difference.

"I think regardless of how good a city is, if the streets are not in good repair, it's undercutting the good benefits of the city," she said.

An "ongoing source" of money should be set aside to keep up with street repairs and those shouldn't "fall on the backs of the taxpayers."

She said the city has great tourist attractions, but people can't get to them because of the roads.

"I think bad streets are like putting a fancy dress on a lady with bare, dirty feet," Cauley said.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.