Democrats

Democrat Mark Swanger, who easily led the ticket during the primary, said the concept of public trust is what has been lost as the current commissioners made decisions about the justice center and other important matters.

“The decision making process is dysfunctional,” said Swanger, 51, who is a two-term incumbent school board chairman from Fines Creek. “A bad process seldom leads to good answers ... we need to establish a process through which decisions will be made.”

Swanger still advocates building a jail first and then the justice center. County finance records show about $2 million has been spent already on the project, but Swanger said a determination needs to be made as to whether taxpayers would realize a net savings if the project was downsized. If that is the case, then he would still advocate reducing the scope of the project.

Swanger, a retired FBI agent, also believes that economic development issues have been relegated to the background during the campaign. He says that is unfortunate because it is one of the most important issues facing Haywood County. Again, he says the the way the county addresses important issues like jobs may need to be altered.

“It’s time to consider restructuring how the economic development arm of county government operates,” said Swanger. “We’ve learned how not to do it.”

Swanger also wants to explore child-care options for county employees. During his tenure as school board chairman, the county school system has opened a daycare at the old Hazelwood school to serve school employees.

Mary Ann Enloe, the only incumbent still in the race for one of the three open seats, says it’s regrettable that the election is turning on the justice center alone.

“I think there is one issue — the justice center — and it shouldn’t be that way, but it is. I have continued to hear from people that it is not the right plan,” she said.

Enloe, 61, is a former purchasing agent for Dayco. She said what she hears on the street and her own experience as a displaced worker has proven to her what the most overlooked issue in this race is.

“The answer to the question is jobs. I firmly believe that. When I ran four years ago that’s all I heard,” said Enloe, who was mayor of Hazelwood for 12 years before it merged with Waynesville.

Enloe also advocates developing a clear, concise job description for the county manager. She said that would help the commissioners do their job better.

Kirk Kirkpatrick, 33, an attorney who is from Waynesville, said the recent action by the Local Government Commission to approve the financing plan for the new justice center has removed it as the prime issue facing voters in this election.

“There is no talk about any defining issue. Before the primary, there was lots of talk just about the justice center. The ruling by the Local Government Commission, I think, laid to rest some of the skeptics,” said Kirkpatrick, who supports building the justice center first.

Kirkpatrick agreed with Enloe and Swanger that jobs and the economy are the most important issues commissioners will need to address.

“The fact of the matter is we have a real problem with employment .... Tourism-related jobs don’t enable people to afford homes when retirees are coming and driving up property values,” said Kirkpatrick. “You can’t live the American dream with tourism jobs.”

Republicans

Mark Clasby says the over-riding issue in this race is not the justice center or the prison, but rather the credibility of the county commissioners.

“It’s about trying to restore trust and credibility to the decision-making process,” said Clasby. “That has become the bigger picture.”

Clasby, 59, is co-owner Cedar Hill Studio in downtown Waynesville. He advocates building the justice center first, but only after more work is done to determine an overall plan for the entire project — the jail, the courthouse renovation, the parking deck and the justice center.

The current board, he says, has “abdicated its authority and responsibility.”

Clasby also thinks the inner workings of county government are not being handled well. He points to the high attrition rate of county employees and the lack of a full-time human resources officer.

“Working with employees and meeting their needs just is not a high priority,” said Clasby.

Kevin Ensley, 42, who owns his own surveying business, says the justice center remains the focus of this campaign.

“I think now, maybe more than ever, that it is the deciding issue. People are going to be casting their votes based on this one issue,” said Ensley.

Ensley supports building the jail first and then developing a plan for the justice center. He also points to several other issues that he says the electorate has brought up during the campaign: the way the board operates, including having meetings in the evenings; accepting information from citizens; job creation; growth and land-use issues, and the prison.

Donna Forga, a 38-year-old attorney making her first try for elected office, says it is unfortunate that the justice center has taken over this election.

“I don’t think you can say we’re past the justice center issue. I think people are tired of it, and it has kept us from discussing other important issues,” said Forga. “It’s a little disappointing.”

Forga, who has let people know that she was a single mother who worked her way through law school, thinks Haywood County needs a new justice center and supports building it first before starting on the jail. She also believes that education, development and jobs are key to Haywood County’s future and are linked closely to each other.

“These are so closely tied because we can’t have one without the others,” said Forga.

Libertarian

Brandon Gilland is trying to break new ground and become the first Libertarian to gain a seat on the Haywood County Board. The 27-year-old businessman says the current plan for the courthouse is too large, but he says the decision to break ground on the project has reduced its significance in this race.

“It looks like this has become less of an issue now since our current board has already signed the contracts. I still feel that this is important, but am glad it is not the only issue in this race,” said Gilland.

Although the justice center has dominated the race, Gilland thinks the forums and the press have allowed candidates to express their views on the other issues important to voters. Gilland wants to lower property taxes and protect property rights. He also supports charter schools and wants to create an entrepreneurial atmosphere to bolster the local economy.