Commissioner candidates address Pike's top challenges

By Anya Tikka
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — The candidates for Pike County Commissioner sparred at a forum this week organized by the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters.

Incumbents Richard Caridi and Matthew Osterberg, both Republicans, are running as a team. Steven Guccini and David Ruby, also a team, are challenging them on the Democratic line.

Caridi said managing the county budget is similar to running his own business, "but I’m using your money, so there's greater pressure."

He's served four years as commissioner and previously 18 years on the school board. "Education makes a difference," he said. "School takes a chunk of taxes."

He said he wants to encourage economic development "to keep children living in Pike County." He said it's not just about jobs but getting commercial development to help with taxes.

He said the county needs an integrated approach to its correctional facility and counseling at jails. He'll continue to recruit for and support the fire department.

Guccini introduced himself as a lawyer "born and raised here. This is where I wanted to be."

"I’ve worked in almost every office in this county," Guccini said. "I’ve seen opiate, heroin addiction. It was a clear problem even five years ago, and nobody took action. It’s great everybody wants treatment centers now."

He wants to enhance communication between government and the people.

"We seem to go out of our way not to get information out to people, by not using technology," he said. "And meetings are at 9 a.m. We need to make it evenings and let people talk."

Osterberg told the audience that he was on Milford Borough council for years, 22 as chair.

"I love it here, have been coming here since I was 17," he said. "So many of my friends must commute long journeys. Drug issues are massive, but we’re working diligently."

He said he's started programs, works with the fire company, and works to bring jobs closer.

Osterberg said many issues have affected the county in the last four years — those affecting children and veterans, judges, courts, and Lyme disease.

Ruby said he'll bring business management and human resources expertise to the office.

"Financially, the commissioners have failed miserably," he said. "Pike County deserves better."

He said the commissioners never seek public input and meet in the dark.

"I have not heard one new suggestion," he said.

The county needs a small business incubator and investments in its youth and environment, said Ruby. How can Pike have ecotourism when there's no recycling program?

"Establish cost-efficient recycling programs," he said. "Actions speak loudly."

Caridi countered that the budget must be balanced.

"Pike County is in excellent financial health," he said.

He said the pension fund is at 95 percent, even while the state is in deficit. Pike's health care account is in excellent shape, said Caridi. In 13 years, he said, Pike County will be totally out of debt. The county's bond ratings went up, and there's been no tax increase in three years.

"We ended recycling for a reason," said Caridi. "We saw a deficit. The market bottomed out. It made no sense."

Recycling has almost doubled at no cost to the taxpayer, he said.

For other highlights of the forum, please see sidebar.

Editor's note: Steve Guccini's name was misspelled in the original edition of this article and has been corrected here. The Courier regrets the error.