Experience key in county commissioner race

Four candidates are running for seats in the race for county commissioner, with one seat open in districts two and three. The District 1 seat will be determined in two years.\nRepublican District 2 candidate Joyce Poling, a REMAX real estate agent, served two terms as commissioner, then served on the county council for three years, but was appointed back to a commissioner position in July.\nMonroe County Republican Chair Pat Salzmann said the county commissioner candidates have run a positive race and have put the issues out in front. Salzmann said it has been a very good year for the Republicans.\nPoling said she hopes her knowledge of county government will separate her from her opponent, Democratic candidate Elizabeth Feitl.\n"(County government) is a little unstructured, so I feel that it's a benefit to have worked for it for so long," Poling said.\nBut Feitl, president of Communications Workers of America Local 4730, hopes to unseat Poling in her bid for commissioner.\n"Elizabeth is making a very strong first run," said Frank McCloskey, Monroe County Democratic Chair. "I think this race for commissioner will be one to watch."\nFeitl said she thinks conflicts of interest will be an important issue for voters to consider. \n"I'm a little concerned about my opponent's real estate profession and if it would be a conflict with all the planning and zoning decisions that have to be made," Feitl said.\nIn District 3, Republican candidate Franklin Andrew, owner of Clear Creek Farms, is challenging the current commissioner, Democrat Iris Kiesling, volunteer and administrator of a consulting firm. \nMcCloskey said Kiesling is a strong favorite and shouldn't have a problem with re-election. \nKiesling has served in county government for 13 years. \n"I have the vast knowledge and experience of how the county government works," Kiesling said. "I knew a lot going in, but I've learned even more over the years."\nBut Salzmann, who said that while she's not one to predict outcomes, thinks the candidates will start pulling out their political strategies, referring to a recent radio ad by Andrew.\n"Everyone has developed their strategies for the races, but now we're going to start seeing more of them," Salzmann said. "It's always the last week before the election that the candidates spend most of their money and grab more votes through ads in the paper, or television and radio commercials."\nAndrew said he hopes his corporate and rural experiences will stand out to voters.\n"Not only do I have experience of running a corporation, but for the past seven or eight years, I've been farming, so I understand the needs of the rural resident," Andrew said. "I've been on both ends and know the balance between the rural residents and the manufacturers"