A county commissioner is an elected, part-time legislator at the county level of government. The seven members of the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners are elected at-large to three-year, staggered terms. State statutes determine the number of commissioners based on county classification and population.The Board of County Commissioners acts to formulate policy and to provide a check on the powers of the County Executive. It approves all county contracts and gives advice and consent to the County Executive’s appointments of department heads and members of boards and commissions. After receiving the proposed county budget from the County Executive each year, it is the duty of the Board of Commissioners to thoroughly review, make appropriate changes, and then vote on the budget.
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Return Checks and Balances to Mercer
As a successful small business owner serving the Mercer County area for over 48 years, I have gained the public’s trust running my own business. I feel uniquely qualified to transfer that trust into my position as a public servant at a time when public trust is at an all-time low point. Helping organizations and individuals make purchasing decisions has been an important part of my job. The current board consists of seven members, who are all from one party. I don’t believe the current situation instills trust because the important component of checks and balances is missing. Honest checks and balances are a benchmark of our democracy and only a two-party solution can offer true diversity and transparency. The public deserves to trust that those making financial decisions come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and that includes political party.
Small business is the backbone of our economic system. For far too long small business has been left out the decision making process. I a member of NFIB and a business owner for over 48 years. For our county economy to prosper and grow, it must support small business owners needs as well as those of large corporations. As commissioner, I plan to look deeply into ways the county can consolidate and streamline mandates, licensing, red tape, and paperwork for these businesses. Additionally, the budget levy this year increased 6.23 % at a time when family and small business budgets are strained. The county must look at ways to do thing more efficiently. This budget relies on drawing 34.8M from surplus, a dangerous budgetary practice.
No, there is not enough citizen participation. With nearly 400,000 residents, having only a handful of people attend meetings is not representative. In 2026, it is unacceptable that meetings are not consistently live streamed and easily accessible online. We need to modernize by broadcasting and archiving meetings and providing clear, easy-to-understand summaries of major decisions, especially budget items. When people can access and understand what’s happening, participation increases and trust is restored. Public comment on budget decisions should not only be tolerated but encouraged. Lack of trust and suspicion rises when there is one party making all the decisions, checks and balances are badly needed.
These accusations of conditions at the facility being inhumane are serious and must be addressed. We have a constitutional and moral obligation to ensure safe and humane treatment during incarceration. At the same time, simply transferring inmates and costs to another county is not a real solution that would leave Mercer at the mercy of another county for future costs we will have no control over. We need to fix our own system! That means insisting leadership improves staffing, morale, and operations, while enforcing accountability to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent properly and improvements are actually completed. We should evaluate ways to modernize and increase efficiencies to improve conditions while controlling long-term costs.
Our county, state, & federal law enforcement agencies should work together, not against each other. Clear communication & coordination are essential to keeping our communities safe & avoiding confusion between agencies. Communication technologies can enable real time communications between officers of different agencies. In many cases this does not presently exists & can cause misunderstandings & confusion. This issue should not be politicized, but handled through practical cooperation that supports officers doing their jobs while upholding the rule of law. As well, there must be accountability & transparency to maintain public trust. One way to improve public trust is to insist all internal affairs departments include public participation.
