State Senator Teresa Fedor (right) was in Jackson County Thursday to serve as the keynote speaker for Democratic Jackson County commissioner candidate, Lisa Parker (left).

And she was not afraid to come out firing when she spoke at her campaign fundraiser last Thursday evening at the OSU/County Extension Office near Jackson.

Parker is seeking the January 3rd term commissioner’s seat in November’s General Election and faces the Republican candidate, former County Commissioner Jim Riepenhoff. Also speaking at the event on Parker’s behalf were State Senator Teresa Fedor and one-time Democratic state representative candidate, Nick Rupert of Vinton County.

Parker, who is seeking county office for ‘the first time, was assertive and on the offensive much of the time against Riepenhoff and accused him of ducking her challenges for a debate. She cast herself as the underdog running against a powerful and wealthy opponent. Using the David-and-Goliath analogy, she even pulled a slingshot out of a brown paper bag for full effect. “I’m not afraid of money and billboards, but he must be afraid of me, because he won’t debate me,” Parker declared.

She also claimed Riepenhoff missed 20 percent of the commissioners’ meetings during his previous term from 2003 through 2006. She noted that she had missed only six commissioners’ meetings since she began attending them in September 2007 — and that these absences were due to work-related obligations. *

Riepenhoff’s campaign literature touts “experience, integrity and fiscal responsibility,” but Parker challenged him on each topic.

“Money doesn’t equate to integrity and fiscal responsibility is living within your means,” she stated. “Yes, he’s outspent me, but what is he going to do with your tax dollars”?

As for own platform, Parker says the county needs to be more aggressive in seeking jobs and that local officials failed to secure available grants. She says all parties need to work together to show that “Jackson County is open4or business,” and added that Republican County Commissioner Tom Walton deserved “tons of credit” for being present for her event.

Parker also feels the county should work to expand broadband Internet service and is in favor of establishing a commissioners’ website to better communicate the public. In order to reach out to more people, she thinks it would be a good idea also to conduct meetings from time to time in the evening and in Oak Hill and Wellston. 

Fedor spoke positively of Parker as a person and feels she has ihe dedication and commitment to be an outstanding public servant and would strive to “do the right thing.” They struck up a friendship after they met at a governmental event in Columbus.

“She has been attending every commissioners’ meeting, every single week for more than a year,” Fedor commented. “Now, that’s commitment.”

Fedor concluded, “Lisa just loves people — you can tell. She just wants to help. I am very proud to call her a sister soldier and great friend.” 

In his remarks before introducing Fedor, Rupert noted that Jackson County Democrats have five candfdates bn the ballot this fall, the largest representation in 40 years and that all them are working hard to get elected.

An unscheduled speaker was Jackson City Auditor Jim Humphreys, who was extremely critical of the federal financial bailout plan that has been proposed by President Bush. He was also fearful that race will be a factor in Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama gaining support from white voters.

– original article by Pete Wilson - The Telegram News

Columbus, Ohio - Lisa J. Parker, candidate for Jackson County Commissioner along with husband Calvin and Parker Campaign Representative Justin W. Skaggs met Wednesday at the Riffe Center with Ian Nickey, Legislative Liaison for the Ohio Department of Development to discuss job creation, job retention, and economic conditions generally in Jackson County.   The meeting was facilitated by Ohio’s 87th House District Representative Clyde Evans after numerous letters from concerned constituents were written to Representative Evans in regard to lack of job growth in Jackson County.

Throughout the course of Parker’s campaign there have been many recurring concerns expressed by Jackson County Citizens but none of which have been more prevalent than the concern for the local economy.  In response to those concerns, Parker devised a proposal to submit to the Ohio Department of Development which would allow for state certification of designated areas as “Certified Business Locations.”  Such designations would allow new prospective employers to summarily decide the suitability of any community for business operations by simply checking to determine if such community is a Certified Business Location.  In other words, if a community is state certified as a CBL, any new prospective employer will know immediately that the community has met all minimum standards necessary to attain CBL status and thus suitable for business.  Minimum standards would include adequate medical facilities, effective educational systems, satisfactory infrastructure, minimum acceptable acreage, available workforce, and available transportation.  Parker contends that such a program would be greatly beneficial to Jackson County as new prospective employers would be able to determine whether a community is capable of supporting the proposed industry without spending substantial resources to make such a determination simply by checking the CBL status of the county.  “It takes all of the guess work out of the decision making process for the companies considering Jackson County as a their new home” said Parker.  “Jackson County clearly has all the necessary components to house any industry that would be interested in choosing Jackson County as home.”  Parker continued, “The trick, of course, is being able to market Jackson County to these companies and being stamped as a Certified Business Location would be an awesome tool to let new companies know that Jackson County is ready to accommodate their needs.”

The State of Ohio currently has a plan in place that allows for similar designations but is only suitable for larger areas with greater populations.  Parker explained to Nickey that reserving such designations for larger areas cripples our region due to the fact that companies first look at the areas that are designated as being ready for business which leaves more rural areas sitting in the dark.  Parker believes that it is crucial to attract several companies with 200 employees or less rather than one company with more than 800 employees to protect Jackson County in the future from situations like the Meridian ordeal.  Parker believes that “putting our eggs in one basket is no longer a feasible plan.”  “We need to diversify so that in the event that a company moves or goes under, our entire county will not be crushed by the closing of one business.”  Parker’s proposal is modeled after the ultra successful West Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa “Certified Business Location” programs.

Nickey was very interested in Parker’s proposal and kept the documents for further consideration.  However, in the mean time, Nickey explained that there are state monies available up to $750,000 per year for the development of sites and the building of facilities to attract new business through the Industrial Site Improvement Fund.   Apparently, Jackson County has never sought to receive those funds even though Jackson County has always been eligible to do so.  “This is free money” said Nickey.  It is a very difficult process and takes serious dedication to complete the application process but it has been completed by several surrounding counties for site clean-up and preparation for business development.  For example, Lawrence County recently was awarded money from the program to clean up a site along the river for development.  “It is unbelievable to me that there is money sitting there for the taking that would allow us to build to suit, prepare sites, and attract new business yet Jackson County has never even made application” Parker commented.  “Jackson County is already in a precarious economic position and when there is available monies for business development, we need to seize that opportunity every single time without hesitation.”  Nickey provided Parker with all of the necessary information to begin the application process and explained to Parker that the Ohio Department of Development is ready, able, and willing to assist in the application process.  “That is precisely why we are here” said Nickey.  The next round of applications for the Industrial Site Improvement Fund are due in December with appropriations decisions to be made in early May 2009.  Senate Bill 24, on which Representative Evans worked, made the monies available on a yearly basis.  But, Jackson County missed the boat this go round’.  Parker said “I can assure you that I will continue to rattle cages and turn over every stone until I find all available resources to assist in the growth of our local economy.”

I just want to share a note from someone who has looked at my energy farming plan. I am not “crazy”. I will be meeting with Matt, and others at the state level on these ideas. So stay tuned!

Hello Lisa,        You have some great ideas.  There are some real opportunities to do something like you are suggesting.  I can help you with a few adjustments that will need to be made to your model.  The trick is finding the time to meet with you.  I should have some time next week if you want to talk by phone or come by the office in Athens. Matt Matthew BennettNABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerDovetail Solar and Wind16675 Canaanville Hills RoadAthens, Ohio  45701740-592-1800

matt@dovetailsolar.com