Commissioner race pits experience against outsiders

In with the new, out with the old. Or is it one is silver and the other gold?\nThe political experience between the candidates for Monroe County Commissioner vary from several years as a commissioner to little political experience. Seats are open in District 2 and 3 and the third commissioner seat will open up in two more years. In each district there are two candidates -- with incumbent commissioners possessing the experience of county government politics, and their opponents fresh-faced and ready to battle.\nJoyce Poling, Republican candidate in District 2, served two terms as a commissioner and was in her fourth year as a county councilman when she was appointed back to a commissioner's seat in July, when commissioner Kirk White resigned. Poling said she is running for re-election because she enjoys solving people's problems and wants to continue to make a difference and help people. She said it's time the county makes a decision on creating the juvenile treatment center, an issue that's been debated for more than 10 years. Poling said she wants to see resolved the issue of overcrowding in the jails.\n"We need to come to a consensus on what to do about a community correction center for non-violent offenders," Poling said. "This would reduce the cost and relieve our overcrowding in jails."\nHer opponent, Democrat Elizabeth Feitl, released a report about her interest in coordinating the city and University bus systems so it expands to the pockets of the population they're not reaching. \nFeitl also encourages working on research for grant money from the federal state to combat domestic violence and points out the importance of continuing work on the juvenile treatment center. \n"I'm committed to seeing this work because I feel it's really important," Feitl said. "Right now, kids are just being shipped everywhere and families then can't be involved. This hampers the treatment; they should stay in the county."\nRunning for the commissioner's seat in District 3, Republican Franklin Andrew admits that while he hasn't had a vast amount of political experience, he understands the balance that needs to be kept between the rural residents and the businesses. The county has a bad reputation of making it difficult to bring new businesses to the county, Andrew said. He said that it is essential to make it easier for manufacturers to move here and he said he feels the county needs to simplify its system.\n"I want to be a voice of common sense," Andrew said. "In very few incidents is the most elaborate plan the best plan. The quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line. We keep wandering around while researching and studying everything. That's what leadership is about: not using a committee for everything and instead making decisions to get things done."\nWhile Andrew is the new face in the race, his opponent, Democrat Iris Kiesling, has been involved with county politics for over a decade. She was on the County Council for nine years and is currently the president of the County Commissioners. Kiesling said she believes her experience will help her lead the county and is motivated to continue being politically active. \n"I've been in the county for more than 35 years and I've raised my family here," Kiesling said. "I want to continue to try to see that we can make sure we use our resources more efficiently. There will be a lot of challenges because we have limited resources. I want to make a better contribution and help make progress so we return good economic qualities and a strong standard of life to the community"