THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Disclosure: Except for Microsoft spellcheck, the following commentary was written with 100% human input

It is difficult to keep up with the news concerning the warp-speed rollout of machine-generated artificial intelligence (AI). This new technology refers to the simulation of human intelligence by machines that are programmed to think like humans.  By the time this commentary is published, my impressions will probably be as stale as last week’s bread.

In early March, technology stocks involved in new AI research caught the eye of investors and underwent a significant rally. This was followed by one headline report after another proclaiming AI either as a miracle discovery that will advance human thought or as the advent of a dark dystopian future. 

Recently, one of the newest machine-learning “Chabot” programs was asked to explain how humankind could safely utilize AI. The program responded: “It is not necessarily desirable or ethical to slow down the progress of AI as a field, as it has the potential to bring about many positive advancements for society.” This upbeat, machine-generated answer did little to calm the detractors of AI. The response sounds like the prologue of a science fiction movie where events could go terribly wrong.

Inside the insular world of AI experts, one group, which includes Elon Musk, is certain that unmanaged AI could kill us all.  These individuals are calling for a six-month pause on creating new machine-learning projects. The fear is that without proper controls on research, AI may soon begin to disobey its programmer’s instructions and operate independently with malicious intent.

On the other hand, many investors look forward to AI’s unimpeded introduction as they try to stay ahead of the competition. They argue that the upside is greater than any potential threat. Indeed, there are immediate applications in medicine for precise diagnoses and surgical procedures, AI-generated research and writing, and advanced learning methods in education. Many other fields will be enhanced by machine-generated accumulated knowledge.

For unschooled observers like me, it was difficult to understand how the smartest thinkers in the world could take such opposing positions. The answer, I learned, is that no one knows how AI works. The complexity of AI models has been doubling every few months. Remarkably, the process by which learning machines store, distill and retrieve knowledge is unknown. This element of mystery is exciting for some insiders and a troubling risk for others.

In my lifetime, similar questions of technology outdistancing human capacity to absorb it have happened on at least two occasions. In the 1950s, the issue was nuclear energy. There were efforts to pause and draw ethical boundaries to prevent nuclear war while expanding positive applications of nuclear power.

The second more recent catastrophic risk was gene splicing/genetic engineering. Again, the international community got together and developed guidelines to permit positive applications while attempting to prohibit the bioengineering of dangerous pathogens. The unknown origins of COVID-19 question whether these efforts were successful.

Apart from whether AI will be our salvation or our destruction is the more benign inquiry of how AI will alter human learning. Philosophers and social scientists have weighed in on this topic. Historians point out that with the discovery of the printing press, curious thinkers throughout the known world could finally communicate discoveries and replicate findings. They turned hypotheses into facts through the scientific method. The Age of Enlightenment challenged the medieval interpretation of a world based on religious faith and gave us knowledge that was built on proven facts.

With AI, the process works in reverse. The most sophisticated AI models cost more than $1 billion each to become productive, utilizing thousands of computers.  Instead of scientific certainties, we end up with new knowledge with no discernable foundation. AI advances human insight without providing us with any understanding of how the knowledge was uncovered. Advocates for pushing AI forward argue that this lack of comprehension is not a deal breaker because new discoveries generated by AI will improve society when coupled with human reason.

In addition to the dystopian concern that scientists could lose control, another negative factor has surfaced. ChatGPT, a form of generative AI, is the most common type of machine learning in general circulation. It is a tool that lets users enter prompts to search much of the world’s internet data. ChatGPT provides detailed answers to these inquiries.

Unfortunately, the technology occasionally makes up facts that sound real to provide a very believable response.  Moreover, malicious actors are well-versed in injecting false information into the internet making it difficult for AI to discern fact from fiction. To address these problems researchers are already working on a model capable of questioning the veracity of a ChatGPT answer.

The “high priests” of technological progress have mixed feelings about the effects of AI on society. It is important for concerned citizens and elected officials to ask the difficult questions involving the deployment of AI. Leaving the future of AI to the scientific community and to venture capitalists out to make a fortune, with no respect for controls, would be a dangerous miscalculation.

One reasonable solution would be to continue research in AI while withholding rollouts to the public until more is understood about how AI works and processes data. The world may be dysfunctional but we must not make the mistake of surrendering our future to thinking machines in an effort to improve society.

 

 

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY PRIMARY PRIMER: CORONER, REGISTER OF WILLS, PROTHONOTARY

This commentary will discuss the final three contested Republican primary races that will appear on the May 16 ballot. Each contest comes with its unique history of past performance on the part of the incumbent and a Republican challenger seeking public office for the first time.

Coroner

Tim Warco. Warco is a Washington funeral director who has served eight terms as the Democratic Coroner. He has now switched parties and is running in the Republican primary. He has come under scrutiny by Republicans who question his sincerity as a conservative. Warco’s experience and job performance are beyond reproach.

Marc Zmijowski.  The challenger to the long-term incumbent is also a funeral director with businesses in Roscoe and Charleroi. Zmijowski has not previously served in public office and his campaign is relying on testimonials from friends and family. He appears to have the full support of the Washington County Republican party as one of their own.

Register of Wills

James Roman.  Roman’s term in office as the elected Register of Wills has been marred by a constant stream of his bravado, bullying, incompetence, and defensiveness. In my view, he exemplifies the opposite of what a responsible public servant should be.

I have observed Roman speaking at commissioner’s meetings and leveling personal attacks against other public officials. His bombastic rhetoric included unfounded accusations of corruption and malfeasance that were unproven, embarrassing, and disrespectful. Roman’s outbursts had little to do with the business of the county or with his office. Ironically, his own conduct in office should be a concern for primary voters.

Roman boasts on the campaign trail that the Register of Wills is the best-run office in Washington County. He does not want voters to focus on the unusual staff turnover in his office or his threats of violence in March against an employee. The incident required intervention by Sheriff’s Deputies. Recent disclosures by Republican Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan reveal that staff members have complained about Roman’s conduct. Some have expressed concerns about their safety. This should be enough to disqualify him from office.

Roman’s unwillingness to cooperate with county audit procedures is further grounds for rejecting his stand for reelection. In May of 2021, the county controller found numerous defects with record keeping, internal controls over bank accounts, and untimely payments to the state and county. Rather than correct the problems, Roman challenged the required audit as an effort to discredit him. In March of this year, the Republican controller, April Sloane, was forced to subpoena documents from Roman in order to complete her most recent audit work. She explained: “Mr. Roman kicked us out of his office and tried to fire my audit manager.” On April 19, 2023, the audit was released with findings of inadequate internal controls over banks’ accounts and accounting processes. Roman has attempted to hide behind state audits that do not address these issues.

Roman has a troubling history of behavior that has compelled the Court, which he is elected to serve, to take action against him. During the pandemic, the President Judge issued a courthouse mask mandate. Roman posted a sign stating that masks were not required in his office and was summarily directed to remove the sign. In July 2021, the Court became aware of misplaced, incomplete, and late adoption filings from the Register of Wills Office. After remedial measures were not taken, the President Judge issued a five-page administrative order forcing Roman to correct the deficiencies under threat of contempt.

Christine Wiles Thomas. Ms. Thomas is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and has never served in public office.  She has held positions in public education, as Director of the Washington/Greene Association of Realtors, and as past president of Washington Business and Professional Women. 

Thomas refuses to criticize Roman’s term in office but she proclaims that if elected “the office will function in a culture of respect, honesty, and collaboration.” Her public statements do not give the impression that she fully understands the functions of the Register of Wills. However, I have no reason to disbelieve her desire to work with the court to achieve “a positive result” and to “promote efficiency and transparency.”

Prothonotary

Laura Hough. Hough was swept into office in the last Row Office election cycle. She maintains an alliance with her fellow anti-establishment Republican officials.  Hough supports the reelection of both Davis (Clerk of Courts) and Roman (Register of Wills). Hough has at times expressed dissatisfaction with the decision-making of the Republican County administration and of the Court. However, she has managed to avoid confrontations with the Court that would hold her in contempt or place her at odds with the County Controller. In this respect, she is the less extreme of the Row Office contenders that the “patriot” Republicans are supporting in the primary.

When the Court first introduced the new comprehensive Case Management System, Hough opposed it and was vocal in letting the county know she had a better plan. More recently, she has bought into the project and is now campaigning on how the system “will revolutionize the filing processes for the Prothonotary’s Office and its users.”

Kevin Hill. Hill is a former district manager for the Washington County Republican Party. A challenge by Hough to Hill’s nominating petition, because it misrepresented his employment status, was dismissed on Monday. Hill maintains that he is self-employed selling sports memorabilia and that he has business knowledge as a manager in the insurance industry. Traditional Republicans appear to back Hill’s campaign.

 

 

 

AN ENGAGING SOJOURN TO PORTUGAL

Until recently, Portugal was not a major travel destination. Most tourists wanted to visit larger European countries. Portugal was considered too small or more of the same. Once word got out that Portugal offered a unique travel experience, the American tourist began visiting in record numbers.  Moreover, Portugal has become a popular landing spot for retired Americans seeking year round great weather along the coast and an inexpensive standard of living.

We found Portugal to be a land of friendly people, great cuisine, fascinating culture and shifting geography. The most striking social dynamic for me was that in Portugal, people realize they are a small country and must pull together. They accept high taxes in return for cradle- to-grave benefits that all of society enjoys.  While Portuguese grumble about the government, they see that the benefits of democratic socialism far outweigh the limitations on wealth. Contrast this view with our wealthier, more diverse country. America does not have a single important cultural, economic, political or social force that is not tearing us apart more than bringing us together.

We were enticed to visit Portugal by reports of a fabulous travel experience with low tour costs because of inexpensive meals and hotels. Our journey was delayed twice by severe COVID outbreaks in Europe. Finally, in early March, we were off for Lisbon. We chose to travel in early spring to avoid the 100-degree temperatures and forest fires that have plagued inland Portugal during the summer months. We landed three days before our tour began to conquer jet lag and take in the museums and history of the capital.

In Lisbon, we were struck by the lack of medieval buildings. While cobblestone streets and colorful azulejos tile are everywhere, the city looks like what one would find in North America. We learned that in 1775, an earthquake and tsunami destroyed Lisbon and the enjoining areas. It was one of the deadliest climate events in human history with 50,000 people losing their lives.

The art museums in Lisbon are small, but world class. The day before our tour began; we journeyed to the nearby town of Sintra, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country. The destination is a gorgeously landscaped hilltop favored by Portuguese royalty. The local summer palace contains centuries of history and artifacts that gave us a foundation for what was to come.

That evening we had a welcome dinner with our tour group and prepared for the first of many early morning bus rides to cover the countryside. Before leaving Lisbon, our group visited the famous Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries. The latter two attractions pay homage to the many explorers who left Lisbon to bring fame and fortune to their country. On our last evening in Lisbon, we were treated to a traditional Portuguese meal with melancholy Fado music.

Our next destination was Nazare. This sleepy surfing village has turned into a worldwide sensation after an HBO documentary highlighted what are considered the largest surfing waves in the world. Unfortunately, on the day of our visit, the surf was calm. We had to make due with an incredible fish stew, fresh bread and sardine pate.

Next on tour was the town of Tomar, a charming and naturally beautiful town in central Portugal. It is popularly known as the Knights Templar City as it was once the seat of this famous Order. The Knights Templar were persecuted in France and forced to relocate in Portugal. In Tomar, the Knights built the Convent of Christ, one of the important works of the Portuguese Renaissance.

In the morning, we were off to spend two days in Porto, located in northern Portugal and the country’s second largest city. J.K. Rowling conceived Harry Potter in this town, inspired by the breathtaking riverfront views and ancient buildings. On our last evening, we broke away from our group for a private dinner across the river, looking down on the lights of Porto. A cruise on the Douro River capped our experience.

Our bus traveled onward to Guimares for a rainy day walking tour. The town is another World Heritage site with a wealth of well-preserved buildings from the middle ages. This was followed by visits to Viseu and Evora. The former gave us a walking tour of the Jewish quarter and the Jewish museum. The latter presented a town in central Portugal that can trace its history back for 5,000 years.

Highlights in Evora were a well-preserved roman temple and a sixteenth century chapel completely decorated with bones, skulls and entire skeletons. Over the entrance to the chapel are the words, “We Bones Are Here, Waiting for Yours.” The monks believed this chapel of bones was a helpful place to meditate on the transience of material things in the undeniable presence of death.

On the way back to Lisbon and the wrap up of our adventure, we were given excellent tours of a port winery and a cork factory. Portugal is the world’s leading producer of natural cork. It is home to the largest cork forest in the world covering 1.8 million acres of land. Cork purses and shoes were in high demand in the gift shop.

Our trip was both entertaining and informative and included other venues not discussed here. Do not hesitate to place Portugal on your travel bucket list. 

 

 

  

Washington County primary primer: Clerk of Courts

Normally, the primary election campaign of row office candidates is a mundane 

affair with little opposition to incumbent office holders. This has changed because of the disruptive actions of several Republican row officers in Washington County.

These individuals, whose sole function is to manage file clerks, have compelled the county court and commissioners to react to inappropriate and illegal behavior. In the primary election on Tuesday, May 16, Republican voters should consider alternative row office candidates. This commentary will discuss the contested Republican primary for the clerk of courts office.

Brenda Davis. Incumbent Brenda Davis is attempting to bolster her primary reelection campaign through unfounded accusations against county and court officials. Her term in office has been a tangled web of fighting the court she was elected to serve, even being held in contempt and incarcerated for ignoring court orders, while claiming victimhood to cover up her misdeeds.

This sordid tale began when the Republican-controlled board of commissioners voted unanimously to transfer workers who collect juvenile court payments from the clerk of courts office to the adult probation office. This action was under discussion well before Davis took office, and after she refused to collect DUI fees as mandated by law. The transfer of her employees was in accordance with state law that says “all restitution, reparation, fees, costs, fines and penalties shall be collected by the county probation department or other agent designated by the county commissioners of the county with the approval of the president judge.” Such payments are collected by numerous probation offices across Pennsylvania, and Davis had no standing to object.

Davis was furious that the county relocated staff. In retaliation, she prepared and presented a bogus “waiver document” to President Judge John DiSalle. In the document, Davis stated her refusal to perform many of her statutory responsibilities, including functions involving juvenile case files. Next, she filed a series of appellate court appeals designed to keep her employees. All the appeals were dismissed.

Davis continued to resist. As a last resort, the president judge signed an order transferring all juvenile case files from her office to the probation office.

In the course of a standoff in the courthouse, Davis blocked court officials sent to retrieve the files with a tantrum. The president judge scheduled a contempt hearing to address her outrageous behavior. Additional Davis appeals were filed, first to block the contempt hearing and later to overturn the finding of contempt, fines and incarceration.

Finally, nine months later, in August 2022, the appeals were exhausted, and the contempt hearing was held. DiSalle described Davis’ conduct as “the most undignified behavior he has seen in all of his years in the law.” Davis was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs to serve at least 15 days in jail, fined $5,000 and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

All but one of the Davis appeals have been resolved against her. The appellate courts found that all actions by the commissioners and the president judge were appropriate. The only matter still on appeal is a minor issue involving the size of the fine imposed by the president judge against Davis at the contempt hearing.

In May 2022, it was revealed that the state attorney general’s office is investigating Davis. The allegations involved manipulation of electronic time cards to misappropriate public funds and provide unearned compensation to her remaining employees.

Davis has attempted to gain leverage against the court and commissioners by claiming that erroneous findings by the Republican state auditor general prove that she was instrumental in uncovering improper use of state funds. At issue was Washington County’s 25-year-old criminal court program for defendants who performed thousands of hours of community service in lieu of paying fines. The administrative office of Pennsylvania Courts and Washington County’s Republican district attorney, among others, found the program well within the county’s jurisdiction. Davis’ efforts to turn substantial funds over to the state were disregarded as baseless.

This is not the story of a principled official standing up to corruption and power. It is the sad tale of a vengeful supervisor of clerks, overstepping her legal authority and embarrassing her office and the county. Davis should be confronted on her efforts to fog up the factual history of her abhorrent behavior during her term in office.

Ray Phillips. Mr. Phillips has the backing of traditional conservative Republicans seeking to return the clerk of courts office to some sense of normalcy. His press release announces he is running “on a foundation of integrity, ethics and cooperation among governmental offices.” Philips is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and has been employed in a variety of sales positions for over 30 years. Phillips agrees with the straightforward job description for the clerk of courts and, if elected, promises he will “work to communicate with the judiciary of the county.”

No one is begrudging the fact that Republicans have secured a sizable majority in Washington County voter registration. Concerned onlookers are simply asking that Republican primary voters consider the facts and support responsible candidates for office.

Washington County Primary Primer: The Commissioner Candidates

This commentary will discuss the Washington County Republican commissioner candidates in the May 16 primary election. My first task was to reach out and ask each non-incumbent candidate what they would do differently than the present Republican-majority board, and why voters should favor them over the other candidates. Two candidates responded and their comments are included.

Overall, the Republican primary has gotten off to an inauspicious start. After nomination petitions were submitted, there were attempts among Republicans to get candidates thrown off the ballot. These unsuccessful challenges, with one appeal, were followed by a kerfuffle over distribution of unauthorized ballot-slate cards. The cards endorsed only more radical Republican candidates. Clearly, this primary season will be a raucous affair.

There are two distinct groups seeking Republican voter approval. One group of “patriot” commissioner candidates is teaming up with the disruptive, row-office incumbents to shift local government to the far right. These candidates are out to challenge the courts, dismiss knowledgeable civil servants and to replace the county’s voting system. Their goals have little to do with forming a well-run local government.

A second group consists of Republicans that are more traditional. Although lifelong conservatives, they appear to be motivated by good governance. These candidates seem dedicated to keeping Washington County moving forward on a responsible track without endless confrontations

Nick Sherman. Incumbent commissioner Nick Sherman does not fit within either Republican camp. He would like the traditional Republicans to view him as the adult in the room. However, when convenient, he offers support to “election denier” patriots to gain a foothold with their extreme voters. Sherman is certainly the most experienced candidate, but has done little to distinguish himself during his term in office. His path to a primary victory is working to ensure that the other contenders cancel each other out, leaving him as one of the last two Republican candidates standing.

Ashley Duff and Bruce Bandel. I am discussing Duff and Bandel together because they are inseparable on the campaign trail and are running as a Republican team. They are the heart and soul of the extreme county patriot movement. Neither has served in public office or distinguished themselves in public service beyond the claim that they are the only candidates who have attended every public commissioners’ meeting since the 2020 presidential election. What is left unsaid is that their repeat attendance has been a well-choreographed exercise with their supporters to hijack the public comments portion of each commissioners’ meeting. Their goal has been to win backing for Donald Trump’s election-denial movement in local government. Neither candidate has stated publicly what specific actions he or she would implement, beyond removing voting machines, if elected. There is no evidence that they care about or understand the practical mosaic of county government.

 Kevin Redford. Redford is a small-business owner who has never served in public office. He supports the leadership of Diana Irey Vaughan, the Republican commissioner who is stepping down. Redford would not be running if she had remained in the contest. He is loathe to criticize the other candidates, but clearly believes that in Washington County “we have something that is working well.” Redford impresses me as a pragmatic, thoughtful candidate who would grow into the position.

Sonia Stopperich Sulc. Ms. Sulc is employed as a nuclear cardiology nurse at Canonsburg Hospital. She has a long resume in Republican politics at both the state and county levels and is a former supervisor of North Strabane Township. In 2014, she lost her bid as a Republican candidate for state representative. Sulc supports Trump in his bid for another term in the White House and is a staunch conservative. She believes her experience as an elected official sets her apart from the field. As commissioner, Sulc would review the performance of civil servants before replacing them.  

Electra Janis. Janis entered the race when she learned that incumbent Irey Vaughan was retiring. She has been endorsed by Republican State Sen. Camera Bartolotta. Her background is in psychology and human resources. Janis has served as a district director with the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives and in numerous capacities in the private sector. A press release from her campaign focuses on her experience in state government. Janis pledges “to find innovative ways to solve problems for our people so we can ensure families flourish and jobs are plentiful.” It is not clear how this statement is meaningful when the present Republican administration in county government has the economy firing on all cylinders with a low unemployment rate. Janis should be more specific on whether her goal is to maintain the responsible status quo or to make radical changes in county government.

Being a county commissioner involves making complex decisions on administrative, financial and emergency-management issues. The three individuals ultimately elected in November, representing both the Democratic and Republican parties, must be prepared to hit the ground running. They will oversee a sprawling government that serves a population of 203,000 people. There is no place for tribal politics or for candidates who have little understanding of how county government functions.  

WASHINGTON COUNTY PRIMARY PRIMER: THE ISSUES

 

On May 16, 2023, Washington County Republican voters will face one of the most important primary elections in decades. All of the noteworthy contested races are in the Republican primary.  This commentary will examine several primary issues and raise questions that the candidates should address before ballots are cast in May. A future commentary will discuss the Republican primary candidates.

Republican voters that are seeking a change in our local government should be careful what they wish for. We have recently experienced the damage that disruptive officials with misguided motives can cause in the Row Offices. Electing two extremist Republican commissioners in November could further unravel a well-run county government by depleting county reserves and crashing county bond ratings.  Radical ideology does not foster rational governance.

Cultural War Issues. The primary election offices being contested are the Commissioners’ Office, District Attorney, Treasurer, Coroner, Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Wills. The last three positions are clerical offices with a single statutory function, to serve and support the courts.

Republicans already control much of Washington County government. It would be a mistake to elect more extreme commissioners who are wallowing in the election victimhood and cultural war positions of the former president. Washington County needs pragmatic commissioners who will continue to guide our strong economy and maintain our high standing as a well-run medium size Pennsylvania county.

Term Limits. Republican candidates proudly push term limits and other government reforms as a campaign issue. In 2021, two of our present commissioners also wanted local voters to consider term limits. Under state law, the only path to accomplish this goal was to prepare and place a referendum to adopt a Government Study Commission before county voters. Astonishingly, two years ago, several Republican candidates in this primary, rather than elect study commission members who agreed with their reform positions, worked tirelessly to defeat the Study Commission referendum. This insured that term limits along with other initiatives to improve local government could not be considered and presented to the voters. The result was no term limits or other reforms.

Voter Integrity.  Republican commissioner candidates claim voter integrity as an important campaign issue.  Several extremists seeking primary votes have spent their Thursday afternoons since the 2020 presidential election at commissioner meetings. Their group of election deniers have demanded unwarranted election recounts, wacky forensic audits, the replacement of voting machines with paper ballots and the decertification of election results.  It did not matter that Republicans carried Washington County by a significant margin, that voter fraud does not exist or that voting machines are secure. Other integrity issues, like requiring voter ID, are state issues and cannot be changed by county officials.

Replacing Appointed Civil Servants with “Patriot” Republicans.  Republicans have controlled all aspects of county government over the past election cycle. Nonetheless, a more radical breed of Republican has captured the local party apparatus and is supporting extremist candidates in the primary. A vote of no confidence contributed to Republican Diana Irey Vaughan’s decision not to run for reelection.

A troubling position of the extremist Washington County Republicans is to terminate experienced civil servants within the present Republican administration and replace them with unqualified partisan supporters. This would include Chief of Staff, Michael Namie, (brought out of retirement by the Republican Commissioners); Elections Director, Melanie Ostrander, (responsible for the administration of complex, contested elections); highly respected Finance Director, Joshua Hatfield; and President of the Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Kotula (who has worked for 20 years to bring economic opportunities to Washington County). If new commissioners gut these and other important positions, it will decimate the administration of county government and the public will suffer.

Qualifications and Performance in Office.  Voters should consider the qualifications of each new candidate and the performance of in office incumbents.  For new candidates it is not enough to parrot a vague party line without demonstrating qualifications for and knowledge of the position each is seeking. Bad behavior while in office should be sufficient to disqualify incumbents.  This would include being held in contempt and incarcerated for failing to follow court directives and for other unconscionable conduct, which has embarrassed the county.

Cooperation with the Courts and with Audits. The Row Offices’ first priority is simply performing statutorily mandated clerical functions by serving the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. The second nonnegotiable function is cooperating with the county controller in the yearly audit process.

The voters should not support any Row Office candidate who balks at following directives from the President Judge. This conduct violates the law. In addition, Court Administration is installing an automated case management system designed to save time and money. Row office candidates must pledge their support to implement this important project.

Regarding audits, the voters should reject any office seeker who refuses to cooperate with the county audit process designed to uncover financial discrepancies and faulty accounting procedures. Elected officials cannot fall back on requesting state audits (which only audit the limited funds payable to the state) to absolve them of this absolute responsibility.

Individual Issues.  Voters may have individual issues to present to the commissioner candidates. In my case, commissioner formation of an authority to develop a performing arts center and appointment of a county diversity commission are important. The coming months are a time for the candidates to hear proposals from the voting public at candidate forums and other events.