Blair County Commissioners – Vote for Two

LAURA BURKE

Office candidate is running for-Blair County Commissioner

Candidates Party – Democratic

Candidates age – 39

Town of residence -–Hollidaysburg

Candidates immediate family – Husband Sean Burke, four children

Current occupation or retiree of. – Attorney (not currently practicing)

Previous experience in elected office – None.

What would you consider your primary reason for running for office? My primary reason for running is the desire to serve our community and to improve the services our government provides. Local government makes the most difference in your day to day life and it is important that we have local elected officials who are in touch with the needs of the community.

What is the biggest immediate challenge you expect to face if elected? The most immediate challenge will be making a plan for how to implement the changes that are suggested by this year's salary study. There will need to be a comprehensive plan of how to phase in new job descriptions and increased salaries without blowing our budget and, hopefully, without tax increases. This will require the Commissioners to work together to prioritize what defects require immediate attention.

What is the biggest issue facing the next board of commissioners? The biggest issue for the next board is what to do about overcrowding and increased costs at our prison. Our new Warden and her team have done a good job of being proactive and trying to control spending, but the building has limitations that make it unsuitable for continued use. The safety of both our corrections officers and the prisoners is at stake. We will likely need to plan for a large capital expenditure for remodeling or for a new building in order to meet our county's needs and reduce costs in the long term.

What are some of your primary goals to achieve as commissioner? My number one goal as Commissioner is to improve communication from the Commissioner's office to the public and internally within the Courthouse. I believe our County government needs to work more closely with local governments and school districts across the county as well as with our neighboring counties in order to provide the best services we can. I also believe we should work hard to make sure the State is held accountable for unfunded mandates and for reimbursing the county fully and timely for court services and CYF services.

What other comments would you like to make regarding the commissioners office and the direction you want to take the county in? I think our county needs Commissioners who will make decisions with the long-term best interests of the county in mind instead of for political reasons. I am raising my family here and have a vested interest in making sure that Blair County remains a safe, healthy place to live for the next generation. Every decision I will make as a Commissioner will be made with the question of "What is the best decision I can make for the majority of the residents of Blair County?" in mind.