Roads top issue in commission race

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July 14, 2006

Roads top issue in commission race

Evan Belanger The Cullman Times Fri Jul 14, 2006, 10:52 PM CDT

Democratic candidates for the County Commission, place 2 runoff are putting the final touches on their campaigns this weekend.

With the runoff scheduled for Tuesday, both Norman "Pete" Tucker and Robert L. Harbison, have remained fairly quiet during the race.

They squared off for the first time recently in a televised debate on Cullman's Channel 2 Television.

The top issue in the race, according both to the candidates, is the poor state of the county road system, which they say is dismal.

Both have called for an increase in funding for the Road Department, which could be accomplished through smarter budgeting and more grant money.

"We have a budget of $6.5 million for the roads," Tucker said. "What you have to do is plan for an overrun at the beginning of the year."

"The amount earmarked for the roads is just not enough," Harbison said. "I just want to make sure we're getting our fair share of the tax money we're paying in. We need more grants."

Tucker also claims he will bring in more grant money.

"Nobody can do more with that than I can," he said.

Other topics touched on in the candidates campaign platforms include finding future water resources for the county, improving cooperation on the commission, finding a way to reduce the number of internal lawsuits which are plaguing the county and installing a new pay scale for county employees.

With a few exceptions, their proposed solutions were markedly similar.

The two had a brief tussle early in their runoff campaigns when ousted candidate Donald Ray Cates issued a political endorsement for Tucker

According to Harbison though, Cates made his decision for Tucker after he was refused a job promise from Harbison if the endorsement went the other way.

Tucker denied promising Cates anything, and Cates claimed his decision to back Tucker came because he thought Tucker has the best chance of beating the Republican challenger in November.

Cates then claimed that Harbison was the one who tried to cut a deal, approaching him before the primary.

"He said we needed to keep Tucker out of there," Cates said. "Pete didn't ask me for anything. That's part of how I made my decision."

The discrepancy remains unresolved.

In the primary, Tucker came out ahead, taking 44 percent of the vote. Harbison followed with 34 percent.

The winner Tuesday will face Republican candidate Wayne Willingham in November.

The candidates, the issues

Norman "Pete" Tucker

ä Roads: The county road system can be fixed through better budgeting. All that needs to be done is to assume fuel and construction material prices will rise and factor that into the budget. The county should also seek more state and federal grant money.

ä Water: The county should do whatever it takes to get more water in the area, including possible pipelines to the Tennessee River. Whatever is done though, the county needs to include other entities in the project. It is not wise to "go it alone" during the so-called "water wars."

ä Parks: The parks should be returned to the control of a board, because the commission has more important things to worry about than managing the county's parks.

ä Pay scale: The new scale, which has been in the planning stages for more than two years should be implemented as quickly as possible.

Robert L. Harbison

ä Roads: The county needs more money to help the failing road system. That can be obtained through state and federal grants. It is important the county gets its fair share from what it pays in taxes.

ä Water: The Duck River Dam is still the best option, despite environmental opposition. It is doubtful the county will ever be allowed to pull water from the Tennessee River, thus Smith Lake should be the next option.

ä Parks: The parks should be returned to the control of a board, but not necessarily the one that is currently in existence.

ä Pay scale: Little is wrong with the old system, so it should be re-implemented as soon as possible. While some changes will be necessary, it is wasteful to attempt writing a whole new scale.

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