Published: August 06, 2006 10:47 am         

New face coming to District 1A

Five Republicans, Democrat vying for House of Delegates seat

CUMBERLAND — All but one would be a freshman on the floor of the General Assembly.

But whether it’s one of five Republicans or the lone Democrat seeking the House of Delegates seat for 1A, one thing is for sure and that is it will be the first time since 1982 that a different person will hold the office.

George Edwards has kept a stronghold on the seat for the last 24 years, but will seek the state Senate seat in the upcoming election.

DeCorsey Bolden wants to reclaim the seat, which now represents Garrett County and the residents of Georges Creek in Allegany County, he held from 1970 to 1982. But first, he’ll have to defeat four others in the Sept. 12 primary.

“I made a difference when I was there before in the lives of the people in Allegany and Garrett counties and I can do it again,” Bolden, who was on the Appropriations and Capital Budget committees previously, said.

The Republican from Oakland said residents would expect him “to represent their interests.”

More than 30 years of business experience and more than three decades of public service to the people of Garrett County is what Wendell Beitzel will bring.

“I think people want someone who is honest, a straight shooter and someone who has stature and character who would also gain their confidence and respect of the people they will work with in Annapolis,” Beitzel, a Republican from Accident, said.

As the first and only woman to serve as a Garrett County commissioner, Brenda But-scher relies on that experience as well as her background in health and business.

Butscher, the executive director of the Hospice of Garrett County, said she knows her way around Annapolis, and she also understands what her constituents would expect.

“I think that they would want someone with good leadership skills, someone who can work as a team with other delegates and senators, someone they can trust, someone they know is honest, sincere and will work real hard for the people of Western Maryland and the state of Maryland,” she said.

Jay Moyer said he would bring 20 years of experience in the political arena as well as “youth, determination, a proven ability to get things done and a desire to work for the people of Garrett County and Georges Creek areas.”

Moyer, a Republican from Oakland, was first elected to the town council in 1987 and is the longest serving councilman. He’s also a state licensed water and wastewater treatment plant operator for the town and is a state licensed superintendent.

As for his constituents, they want a “candidate who knows what the issues are and who has dealt with most issues in the past and has the ability to resolve as many problems” as possible.

A graduate of the Leadership Maryland 2004 class, Dave Moe said he’ll bring leadership and the knowledge of Mountain Maryland.

Also a resident of Oakland and a Republican, he said 1A constituents expect continued economic development activities, funding for education and educational facilities.

The lone Democrat, Bill Aiken, automatically makes it to the Nov. 7 general election. The last Democrat to hold the seat was Aiken’s father who was defeated by Bolden in 1970.

A self-described conservative Democrat, Aiken said his experience, which includes his work as an employee of the farm bureau in West Virginia, will be his greatest asset.

“My main promise is to do the best job possible I can and I think it’s important that I ask them what they want and to work with county leaders and county commissioners,” he said.

The delegate-elect also can expect to face a number of issues including slots.

Beitzel supports the governor’s initial initiative to place slot machines at horse racing tracks in Maryland where people already can gamble. The industry remains a proud tradition in the Free State, but he sees no reason to put slot machines elsewhere.

Bolden also is in favor of the governor’s first initiative, but would be opposed to casino gambling at places such as Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort.

Moyer said the money that’s heading across state borders could be better utilized in Maryland to help fund paid fire and rescue units, especially those that are struggling to maintain their volunteer ranks.

“I feel that each county should be given the right to determine what is best for them on the issue of gambling,” Moyer said, adding that gambling parlors should be kept to a minimum, monitored and under the control of a state gambling agency.

Aiken agrees individual counties should decide, but added the social costs of gambling also must be considered. And while it’s a tough issue, he’s sure slot machines elsewhere have hurt Maryland’s racing industry.

Saying it makes no economic sense to deny slots as the state’s neighbors reap the benefits, Moe supports them. He’d also like to see the machines in volunteer organizations from fire companies to clubs such as the Elks.

“What’s the difference between slots and bingo,” Moe said.

Butscher said slots would bring more money to the state, which in turn would help the governor as he drafts the budget.

Each candidate also faces questions about economic development.

Delegates, Moe said, are responsible for working with the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development.

When the state receives inquiries from companies, it’s up to state officials to direct them to areas where existing facilities are or appropriate infrastructure, affordable land and qualified labor are.

Moe also has a campaign priority to monitor and to support new laws to keep NewPage, the paper mill in Luke, and the region’s forest products, coal and trucking industries healthy and growing.

Butscher said the county is doing well but the region always is looking for new businesses, especially those that will offer the younger generation a place to work and to make a living.

She also prefers “planned growth.”

Planning for the long term also is imperative in Bolden’s mind so that the region is not overwhelmed.

He said the area’s industrial parks have been successful and he would like to increase their capacity “to attract other diverse industries that would be helpful to our labor force.”

Bolden also has a few other ideas on how to bring the much-needed high-paying jobs, including building a power plant in Kempton and creating a “think tank” to drive entrepreneurs to promote economic and industrial development for job opportunities.

Moyer agrees that while “economic development is crucial” it has to be controlled.

“We can’t allow the growth that’s occurring to expand into areas such as farmlands,” he said.

The key also is to build where infrastructure can be built easily or already exists.

Aiken said even though the area doesn’t have the manufacturing jobs of years past, good jobs have been created in Garrett County. Attracting more of those, though, is vital.

“We’ll provide you with employees that will work for you, who are responsible and increase productivity,” Aiken said.

Beitzel said as a commissioner, one of the initiatives that was passed was the elimination of the personal property tax on all businesses. It’s something he’d like other counties to explore.

As a legislator, he’d work to find ways to allow small businesses “to operate with fewer regulations and less taxes.”

Much of this past legislative session addressed energy deregulation and the potential for high energy bills.

Moyer said he expects to see a similar problem of high rate increases when the cap comes off for Allegheny Power’s residential customers in about 18 months. BGE customers encountered it this year.

He also believes the state has to look at ways to rein in utility companies and sees a problem with the lack of representation of utility companies in the area.

“We’re paying more and more for our utilities and getting less and less service,” Moyer said.

When it comes to wind turbines, though, Moyer said he’ll remain neutral until he has more information.

“Wind turbines, as far as I can see, have not proven to be a viable source of electric as of now,” he said. “I would like to see more studies done to determine exactly if and how wind turbines provide a beneficial impact on the cost of electric and the reduction of usage of fossil fuels.”

Property owners also have the right to do what they want with their land, he added.

Moe said the problem began in 1999 when the state tried to freeze rates in the hopes of generating more competition. No oversight, however, was put in place.

And now that the contract expires, people are going to see those rates increase.

Moe said Allegheny Power hasn’t been allowed to raise rates since 1999 but look what’s happened with the price of everything else.

Realizing that rates will increase, Moe recommends a “staggered phase in” to assist the company in recovering its costs.

He sees another problem, though, in that nonprofit agencies, including volunteer fire departments and churches, are considered commercial properties, which means they pay 40 percent more than residential customers. The power company or Public Service Commission should address the matter, he said.

Moe also isn’t opposed to wind turbines. He rents office space to Clipper Wind Power but said it does not affect his opinion.

“We’re all paying high energy costs,” he said. “To deny wind power as a feasible method does not make common sense to me. I don’t see why farmers and retirees who own land on mountaintops should be denied the opportunity to lease a piece of ground for wind generation and to receive some revenue.”

Beitzel said the matter must be dealt with seriously when the election is over.

He also believes that with the energy situation as it is and the instability in the Middle East, anything that can be done to decrease the country’s dependence on foreign products should be done. That also means looking at alternative resources such as wind power.

On the surface, wind power appears to be a renewable source of energy that does not deplete any of the earth’s natural resources, he said. The county, however, needs to be aware of how many it would take to produce the same amount as the Dominion Power Plant in Mount Storm, W.Va.

“If we would have windmills covering our mountaintops, I would have some question as to how compatible they are with the nature of our county,” Beitzel said. “I want to keep the rural character and scenic quality intact.”

Aiken said the whole point of deregulation is to create competition, but the state hasn’t found that to be true.

He added that wind turbines may have a place in the future and to say now they can’t be constructed may mean officials are overlooking a resource for the future.

Answers as to whether or not they are efficient and sound economic investments need to be found first.

Bolden relays the story of a business owner in Mountain Lake Park who saw her electric bill increase $1,000 a month when the commercial rates for Allegheny Power increased. That amounts to about what she earns monthly.

Competition, he said, is what determines the market price. The nation also must address the need for electricity, which could mean an increase in power and even nuclear plants.

AES Warrior Run is a model for such.

“I’d like to emulate that type of plant in southern Garrett County in Kempton where there’s water and coal,” Bolden, the owner of a car wash in Oakland, said.

Like many, though, he’s not sure wind farms are the way to go.

“The initial capital cost to put a 400-foot turbine next to your neighbor’s lot is egregious,” Bolden said. “I liken it to putting a pig farm upwind of your neighbor’s property. The biggest detriment is the impact it has on adjacent property values.”

He said he’s “adamantly opposed” to ruining the mountain ranges of Garrett County.

Butscher said it’s only logical to think that the rates will increase but right now, she doesn’t have an answer on how to avoid it.

“I think it got way out of hand and now everything is in an uproar and hopefully, after the election, senators and delegates can come up with a better plan,” she said.

Butscher also has mixed feelings about windmills.

“I don’t like the appearance of them, but I also feel if the farmer owns the property and he wants to do something with his property, he should be permitted to do what he feels is good for him,” she said.

Maria Smith can be reached at msmith@times-news.com.