Lewistown Sentinel - "Public Scrutiny"

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Nine candidates seeking election to the 5th Congressional District seat appeared to present their platforms and answer questions during Wednesday's night's Measure the Candidates event at Indian Valley High School.

Democratic candidates at the event included Bill Cahir, Mark McCracken and Rick Vilello, and the Republican candidates in attendance included Chris Exarchos, Keith Richardson, Matt Shaner, Jeffrey Stroehmann, Glenn Thompson and Derek Walker.

The event was sponsored by the Mifflin County Farm Bureau. Frank Bonson, the farm bureau's president, moderated the event.

Bonson explained to the audience of about 50 people that each candidate would be given 30 seconds to introduce themselves. After the introductions, the candidates fielded questions which were submitted in writing by members of the audience. Each candidate was given one minute to answer each question. A three-minute summation by each candidate concluded the session.

The questions and the candidates' answers were as follows:

Q: "What are your thoughts on the federal government and the mortgage crisis facing the country?"

Vilello: "Lack of general oversight and greed has led us down this path. It's going to lead to lots of heartache. I believe we are in recession. Credit card debt and the mortgage crisis are tied to greed."

McCracken: "This really is a crisis that is having a terrible impact in our area. Our government missed the boat when they allowed this to happen."

"It's going to be a problem for the government to stay in and fix this. It's going to take a lot of leadership."

Cahir: "If the government does something, it has to help people keep their homes; that's issue one. Issue two is you, the taxpayers, have the right to know."

Exarchos: "History has a way of repeating itself. Here we are again, 20 years later."

"People make bad decisions in life and have to pay the consequences. We have people living pay check to pay check and we have people waiting for handouts. That has to be stopped."

Thompson: "I don't support bailouts. Economic downturn has caused that. We need to be able to provide tax incentives for those (companies) creating jobs here, not overseas."

Stroehmann: "I think we need to look at the root cause — energy. Do I think we should've bailed out — no; it just needs to be a calling card. We are tumbling because we (the U.S.) are less competitive for energy."

Shaner: "I do not support a big federal bailout. I support the government working with banks. I think we do need to take a look a predatory lending ... its bad for the economy, its bad for all of us."

Richardson: "I think this is partially a problem created by (the) federal government. People in lower income levels cannot have the American Dream. Its a problem created by Congress. Should Congress step in now? No, Congress should get out of that altogether."

Q: "Do you favor or oppose building a fence on our borders to protect the country?"

McCracken: "We need to look more at the use of technology. We need to find a way to effectively control immigration. The cost of building a wall is going to be very expensive."

Cahir: "People can tunnel under a wall. They want to put a military on the wall. I think that's an abuse of our military. (The) wall is not the right way to go."

Vilello: "Illegal immigration is also a national security issue. We need to monitor goods and our ports. Those (illegal) employees here need to be punished. (They are) taking middle class jobs."

Richardson: "We need to stop the hemorrhaging. A fence is a partial answer to that solution. A fence can stop a car and a cow, but not a determined human being. We need to increase our border patrol."

Exarchos: "I believe we need to secure our borders by whatever means. The bigger problem is what we do with the 12 to 15 million (illegal) people here."

Thompson: "If people are here illegally, then they have broken the law, so we send them home. We do that compassionately, but we enforce the law."

Shaner: "I've been talking a lot about this. I will make it my top priority. We need to build the wall. We have over 12 million illegal immigrants currently in this country. That is a huge problem."

Stroehmann: "I think we all agree. The number one priority is to get our border sealed. The U.S. is not the welfare nation."

Q: "What are your opinions on pulling out troops from Iraq?"

Cahir: "I have boots on the ground experience in Iraq. We should work on a bipartisan basis to phase out of Iraq."

Vilello: "This is a very complex issue. (It's) time for the Iraqi people and government to take over a sovereign nation. Let the Iraqi people take over their own destiny. My ultimate goal would be to get the troops out as quickly as possible."

McCracken: "(The) key part of getting troops home is our next president. Stabilize not only Iraq, but the entire Middle East. I do believe, though, we have to get them home as quickly as possible."

Thompson: "My thought is that it's a decision for the commanders on the ground. They have the best position on that decision."

Stroehmann: "We can't pull out at this point. We can't disgrace our troops or nation. We've rounded the corner; we are almost home. I'm happy about that."

Shaner: "Since 2001, in my opinion ... we are able to secure and hold towns now. Things have gotten better. I believe we are seeing results."

Richardson: "I think (the) decision should be left to tactical commanders. I grew up in a military family; I understand the frustration. We bring the troops home when the Iraqi government is capable."

Exarchos: "By taking these actions we have a responsibility to help form a workable government. I think we need to think things through before we get into wars — (but) we can't just get up and leave."

Q: "What is your position on ethanol? Do you support the $1.50 per gallon subsidy and how do you view this in relation to the cost of food?"

McCracken: "It is a step in the right direction to start developing and producing alternative fuels. The one thing we got to remember, this is grain corn they are using. I'm very much in favor."

Cahir: "I think we need a broader energy policy. Do I support community-based ethanol, sure."

Vilello: "I believe we are at a crossroads in our country. We have to find what's next. I think corn-based ethanol is a step in the right direction."

Shaner: "I support the subsidy for ethanol. I am concerned we are building all these plants across the country. We need to take a look at some alternatives."

Richardson: "I think we should continue to develop all kinds of alternative energy. Right now, it still looks promising. It looks as though to be driving the price of corn up."

Exarchos: "The cost of grain is driving food prices up. I don't believe without the subsidies its economically feasible."

Thompson: "I feel the government frequently reaches into our pockets and throws money into things. What I would like to see is we invest in our research for alternative energies. Our goal needs to be energy independence."

Walker did not participate in the question-and- answer session due to another commitment earlier in the evening. However, he did arrive in time to offer a three-minute summation of his campaign platform, as did the other candidates following the question-and-answer session.

The 5th Congressional District includes Armagh, Decatur, Derry and Granville townships in Mifflin County, as well as Burnham, Juniata Terrace and Lewistown boroughs. The district also includes Fayette Township in Juniata County, portions of Clearfield, Crawford, Tioga, Venango and Warren counties, and all of Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties.

Pennsylvania's primary election is scheduled for April 22.

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