Democrats

“I have not been running against the justice center but against the process that got us where we are,” said Swanger, who wants to build the jail first while determining how big the justice center needs to be. “We have a dysfunctional county commission, and the justice center project is a symptom of that problem, it is not the problem.”

Swanger said the elected commissioners have abdicated too much power to the county administration and County Manager Jack Horton. As evidence, he points to construction management contract for the justice center and parking deck recently signed by the county board.

“Three commissioners voted to sign it and they had never even read it,” said Swanger.

While the county administration can’t take blame for the entire process, Swanger did say Horton should have used more care when discussing issues with commissioners outside of meetings rather than waiting for public meetings where all business could be conducted openly.

Kirkpatrick is one of three candidates who made it through the primary while supporting the immediate construction of a new justice center — although not necessarily the exact one now being planned. He thinks voters are looking at other issues.

“I don’t believe it played a significant role in the primary,” said Kirkpatrick.

He said that the Oct. 1 vote could erase the project from people’s minds, meaning other matters would take precedence.

Enloe, though, says the project will affect everything else the county does in the next 10 years because it will tie up a good portion of the county’s discretionary money.

“This won’t go away. It will affect every line item in the budget — education, social services. Issues that affect people’s pocketbooks won’t go away,” she said.

Kirkpatrick and Enloe have different views on the justice center, but they agree that negative campaigning has no place in a county commission race. Kirkpatrick and five other candidates who supported the justice center were the subject of an ad urging voters not to vote for them in the primary, and Enloe said she was subjected to negative ads when she ran for the state House two years ago.

“I definitely felt the wrath of the vocal minority who is against the justice center,” said Kirkpatrick. “But I intend to campaign on what I stand for and make sure that the people who may not know me yet know enough to make a choice.”

“I don't participate in negative campaigning,” said Enloe, but she said it worked when it was used against her in the House race.

Both Swanger and Enloe say just because the voters sent six commissioners to the general election who were split on the justice center does not mean voters are evenly divided on the project. They pointed to the effect of single-shot voting — casting a single vote in the primary when each voter was allowed to vote for three commissioners — and the vote distribution among precincts.

“I’ve known all along the county was divided on this issue, but as far as being split 50-50, no, I don’t think that’s the case because of single-shot voting,” said Enloe.

Kirkpatrick ran strong around Waynesville and in Jonathan Valley where he has family ties. Swanger said at least one person told him he voted just for Kirkpatrick because Swanger did not need the vote in the primary.

Republicans

Ensley, in his third try for elected office, is not talking like a front-runner or taking anything for granted. In fact, Ensley says there are several good candidates out there, including Democrat Kirk Kirkpatrick. After participating in three forums during the primary, Ensley thinks voters are perhaps voting as much for individuals as on issues.

“I think people are listening for your explanation of your viewpoint, not just the viewpoint,” said Ensley.

“People saw how Kirk reacted on his feet during those forums. I think they want problem-solvers, people who use a good thought process. That may be more important than being dogmatic and voting for just one party,” said Ensley.

He also says the whole issue of the justice center may be behind the county by the time of the general election.

“I think the LGC may make their decision and we won’t be able to renege on those contracts. I also think a lot of voters just want this over with,” said Ensley, who supports building the jail first and then determining what the needs are for a new justice center.

Clasby believes voters are looking at the larger picture instead of just the justice center. His overriding message is similar to that of Mark Swanger.

“There is so much more at stake than the justice center. We’ve got to restore trust and faith in the process,” said Clasby. “In listening to people, I hear them saying that they are just fed up with the process.”

As a small businessman with experience in a corporate environment, Clasby says he has the experience to help the board operate more effectively.

“My strength is in planning and then coming up with a plan to execute the program developed,” said Clasby.

Forga, a lawyer with strong local ties and whose late father was a commissioner, thinks the justice center was an important issue for voters.

“I think it’s the case that there is not an overwhelming majority against this project. People had choices other than me, Mark (Clasby) and Kirk, but they did not take them,” said Forga.

Forga said that during the campaign she saw just one other candidate actually attend court to see what the situation is.

“I think if more people came and sat with us, they would see what bad shape we are in. We desperately need a new justice center, and as far as the jail we have to do something because there is just so much liability,” she said.

Libertarian

Libertarian Brandon Gilland thinks the process so far used to arrive at the current plan showed an “irresponsible use of taxpayer money.”

“My biggest problem is the public never got a chance to get involved,” said Gilland.

The supporters of the current plan for the justice got voters to the polls during the primary, according Gilland. But if the LGC approves funding Oct. 1, the issue may fade away in importance before Nov. 5.

“It’s just unfortunate that lobbying the LGC might get something like this passed so close to an election,” he said.