Fannin, Berry vie for open District 6

Staff

Published Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pike County Commission’s District 6 race is the only one guaranteed to place a new commissioner in office.

With incumbent Adam Drinkwater losing the Republican nomination to Karen Berry, the seat will be open for the Nov. 4 election.

Berry, a former District 6 commissioner, will face first-time candidate Oren Fannin, who is the Democrat nominee.

Both candidates said there are several needs to address in the county, but they had different ones on their minds.

To Berry, the greatest needs stretched from road conditions, bridges and litter to a need for more economic development in the county.

To Fannin, he said ambulance service is the most important issue to address and falling right behind is improving conditions of county roads.

But both candidates said fiscal responsibility and representing the county is at the core of the role they will assume if elected to the District 6 seat.

“It’s to be financially accountable to the people of Pike County, not just District 6,” Berry said. “A major concern is the debt, but the role is also to be responsive to the needs of District 6.”

In economic hard times, Fannin said financial responsibility is especially important locally.

“First of all, the role is to represent the people, and then as a representative of the people, the commission pretty much oversees the county government and operations of the county,” Fannin said. “Probably the most important role for the commission today is the budget and making sure the money they have is spent wisely.”

Berry said in the county, the debt creates a deficit from being able to provide other needed services.

“I think the needs of Pike County are greater than the money we have now,” Berry said.

She said to help reduce debt, the commission should continue making payments on its 10-year reduction plan, and perhaps try to pay it off sooner than expected.

“I would like to be sure the debt is paid off in 10 years or less so more progress can be made in acquiring new grants,” Berry said.

“If the debt is paid off, it would show financial responsibility to the people of Pike County.”

Fannin said increasing revenues or tighter management is the key to aiding the county’s finances.

“We need to look at if there is any way to increase revenues, which I’m not sure there is, and if not, we have to do a better job of managing with less,” Fannin said.

Fannin said the work the current commission has done on debt reduction is a positive step in the right direction, but perhaps there is more that could be done.

To increase revenues, both candidates said they were opposed to new taxes, but they are not sure how they stand on the county lodging tax yet.

Berry said her concern and love for Pike County is what drives her to run for office.

“I feel I can bring experience and responsibility as a commissioner,” Berry said.

“I want to serve the people of District 6 and the county.”

With eight years experience as a commissioner, Berry said she could be a positive asset on the commission table.

Fannin said he simply is running because he wants to do something different.

“I’m not happy with the job that’s been done before, particularly in my district,” Fannin said.

Fannin, who has served in the military in management positions said his qualifications can’t be matched.

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