1 00:00:01,370 --> 00:00:02,300 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,220 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,860 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,540 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,500 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,540 and today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,260 Hey, thanks for joining us on another episode of Commonalities. I'm your host, 8 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:31,580 Matt Dowling. My guest today is Cameron Downer. Now Cameron, 9 00:00:32,230 --> 00:00:32,640 uh, 10 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,980 may be known to some people in the Fayette County area in the heart of w Nmb, 11 00:00:37,060 --> 00:00:41,820 S's listening territory. But if you're out on the fringe areas in Green County, 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,180 you wanna get to know Cameron because he is, uh, he's running for, 13 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:51,780 uh, county commissioner there in Green County. He previously worked as, 14 00:00:51,780 --> 00:00:54,820 uh, a field organizer for the, uh, 15 00:00:54,820 --> 00:00:58,780 Republican Party of Pennsylvania in Fayette and Green County. Cameron, 16 00:00:58,810 --> 00:01:01,700 before we get too far in the program, 17 00:01:02,170 --> 00:01:05,900 I wanted to give you a chance to just kind of do a little bit of a self 18 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:08,740 introduction and, uh, tell us and, 19 00:01:08,740 --> 00:01:13,260 and especially the voters out there in Green County, tell them, uh, you know, 20 00:01:13,260 --> 00:01:16,380 why you've decided to run for office and what your background is. 21 00:01:18,350 --> 00:01:21,720 Absolutely, Matt, thank you very much for having me on. Uh, 22 00:01:22,730 --> 00:01:24,000 so like you said, 23 00:01:24,020 --> 00:01:28,280 I'm a candidate running for county commissioner here in Green County. 24 00:01:29,170 --> 00:01:31,080 Um, and again, like you said, 25 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,360 I formerly worked for the Pennsylvania Republican Party. 26 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,400 I was a field organizer, 27 00:01:34,530 --> 00:01:38,560 so I covered the territories of both Green and Fayette Counties. Prior to that, 28 00:01:38,670 --> 00:01:42,320 I graduated with the degree in Political Science and Homeland Security from 29 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:46,120 Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Uh, grew up in Green County, 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,880 lived here all my life, worked here, went to school here, uh, 31 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,080 went to church here, all that. Uh, 32 00:01:53,260 --> 00:01:56,400 and being a former, uh, 33 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,080 field organizer for the Republican Party, now, 34 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,200 it put me in a lot of situations where I got to meet a lot of the people, uh, 35 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,360 from Green County and Fayette County as well. Um, 36 00:02:06,620 --> 00:02:08,960 and getting to kinda know the, 37 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:14,200 the political issues that are faced by the county and by the people of the 38 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:15,033 county. 39 00:02:15,140 --> 00:02:19,160 And I believe that has given me an excellent opportunity to be in a very unique 40 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,160 situation, uh, to really be, to have an intimate, 41 00:02:24,450 --> 00:02:28,900 um, uh, well, what's the word I'm looking for? An, an intimate, 42 00:02:29,470 --> 00:02:29,820 uh, 43 00:02:29,820 --> 00:02:34,260 relationship with the people in this county and the political issues they face. 44 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,100 And that's part of the reason I'm running for this office. Now, 45 00:02:38,410 --> 00:02:42,860 I will say this was not my ambition. Uh, when I decided to run, 46 00:02:42,860 --> 00:02:46,940 I was actually in law school and I was actually in the process of starting up a 47 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:48,820 my business, uh, my own business. 48 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:53,620 And there were certain things that were going on in the county at the time that 49 00:02:53,770 --> 00:02:58,020 gave me a certain compulsion that I need to run. And so I, 50 00:02:58,020 --> 00:02:59,840 I've thought about it a lot and I've prayed about it a lot, 51 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,360 and I confide in a lot of people, 52 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,880 and a lot of people actually really encouraged me to do this and that, 53 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,280 that's in large part why I'm running today. 54 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:12,690 Well, and, and you know, you mentioned that, uh, this wasn't your, 55 00:03:12,690 --> 00:03:15,650 your thoughts or your ambition and, and I'll share with you, 56 00:03:15,650 --> 00:03:20,010 as I've shared with other candidates that have been on my show, um, you know, 57 00:03:20,010 --> 00:03:24,970 I I first got involved with the Republican Party in, uh, 58 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:28,450 2006, 2007. Uh, 59 00:03:28,450 --> 00:03:30,570 eventually worked as a, 60 00:03:30,740 --> 00:03:34,610 an organizer for the McCain PAing campaign. Um, 61 00:03:34,750 --> 00:03:38,810 and I always thought that I would be, um, you know, 62 00:03:38,810 --> 00:03:42,570 the guy that helps get people elected in works campaigns. 63 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:44,250 And I never thought that, uh, 64 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,570 that you would find my name on a ballot o on election day. 65 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:52,410 And, uh, and then as, as fate would have it, um, 66 00:03:52,750 --> 00:03:57,130 opportunities presented themselves and, and I ran for public office. And, 67 00:03:57,230 --> 00:04:02,170 and it was, uh, really a, a, a joy and an honor and a privilege to, 68 00:04:02,170 --> 00:04:06,250 uh, to serve the people of Fayette and Somerset County for, uh, 69 00:04:06,310 --> 00:04:09,890 for six years. Um, so, you know, 70 00:04:09,890 --> 00:04:13,570 sometimes you don't go into the, the idea of, you know, 71 00:04:13,570 --> 00:04:16,730 this is what I wanna run for, this is what I wanna do. Uh, 72 00:04:16,730 --> 00:04:20,370 you simply try to better your community and help good candidates and, 73 00:04:20,370 --> 00:04:25,170 and you end up becoming a candidate yourself. So with that, uh, Cameron, 74 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:28,810 my first question for you today is, you know, 75 00:04:28,810 --> 00:04:33,770 what do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Green County right now? 76 00:04:34,390 --> 00:04:37,890 And, you know, how do you plan to address it? And, 77 00:04:38,070 --> 00:04:40,330 and let's kind of back up and, you know, when, 78 00:04:40,330 --> 00:04:42,610 when people talk about the president of the United States, 79 00:04:42,610 --> 00:04:46,770 they talk about the first a hundred days in office. So, uh, so, you know, 80 00:04:46,970 --> 00:04:50,730 painting the picture, you just got elected county commissioner in Green County. 81 00:04:51,220 --> 00:04:53,410 Uh, what do you have to set out to fix first? 82 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,730 Yeah, so there, oh boy, 83 00:04:56,730 --> 00:04:59,730 that's a tough question because there are a lot of things I could say, 84 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:05,250 a lot of issues I, I could pick out. But I'd say probably the number one issue, 85 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:09,530 uh, based on the conversations I've had from talking to people and listening to 86 00:05:09,530 --> 00:05:12,210 their concerns, I'd say the number one issue, 87 00:05:12,610 --> 00:05:15,370 which is multifaceted, uh, 88 00:05:15,850 --> 00:05:20,330 would probably have to be in relation to the county economy. 89 00:05:20,550 --> 00:05:23,050 And by that, I, I realize that's very broad, 90 00:05:23,050 --> 00:05:27,850 but I would say that part of that would be our taxes. Uh, 91 00:05:27,850 --> 00:05:31,570 within the last four years since the current commissioners took over, 92 00:05:31,570 --> 00:05:35,210 we've had a property tax increase of 4.25%, 93 00:05:35,330 --> 00:05:40,170 which has actually made Green County exceed the property tax rates of 94 00:05:40,170 --> 00:05:44,370 Fayette County, Washington County, the state average, or the national average, 95 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:49,090 as well as neighboring Moning, Gallia County, which is in West Virginia. Um, 96 00:05:49,660 --> 00:05:52,370 so that's, that would be one, uh, second, 97 00:05:52,750 --> 00:05:56,250 the second facet of that would also be our population decrease, 98 00:05:56,250 --> 00:05:59,400 which is brought on by a lack of economic opportunities. 99 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,520 There are a lack of jobs to be head in this county, uh, 100 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,840 not a whole lot of taxable assets in this county. 101 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:09,600 And now that's really a driving force and why a lot of people are leaving. 102 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:14,200 We are experiencing a, a high rate of, uh, 103 00:06:14,410 --> 00:06:18,680 of immigration out of this county and paired that with a 104 00:06:18,990 --> 00:06:23,240 fairly low birth rate compared to other counties in this, in this commonwealth, 105 00:06:23,770 --> 00:06:27,160 uh, that is a recipe for a, 106 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:32,160 a very rapidly shrinking county with very little jobs in high 107 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,120 taxes. It's becoming a very undesirable place to live. 108 00:06:35,540 --> 00:06:40,040 And unless we change that trend very soon, we are, 109 00:06:40,310 --> 00:06:44,040 I, I'd venture to say we're probably one generation away from becoming a ghost 110 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,930 town, but that's the answer to that. Yeah. 111 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:53,050 Sure. So, you know, while we are, you know, talking about the economy, um, 112 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,450 I wanna ask a question that, that I ask many candidates, uh, 113 00:06:57,450 --> 00:07:02,170 regardless of, of what office they're running for, but you know, 114 00:07:02,540 --> 00:07:04,850 as a county commissioner, um, 115 00:07:05,030 --> 00:07:09,610 how would you balance providing county services while maintaining, 116 00:07:10,140 --> 00:07:12,970 uh, financial responsibility? And, and, you know, 117 00:07:12,970 --> 00:07:17,930 you already touched on the fact that that tax burden maybe onerous on, 118 00:07:17,930 --> 00:07:19,970 on some individuals. Uh, 119 00:07:19,970 --> 00:07:23,930 I know in my time that tax bonus that, or excuse me, 120 00:07:23,930 --> 00:07:28,530 that that tax, uh, that was being charged, 121 00:07:28,530 --> 00:07:33,530 whether it be school taxes or local taxes, uh, was onerous on, especially, 122 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:38,370 uh, the aging populations that we have here in Pennsylvania. Um, you know, 123 00:07:38,370 --> 00:07:42,890 so what are your thoughts about continuing to provide good county services 124 00:07:42,890 --> 00:07:47,330 while being financially responsible? And, you know, 125 00:07:47,330 --> 00:07:51,930 I I will also take some of the burden off of you as a, uh, 126 00:07:52,210 --> 00:07:56,050 candidate for county commissioner and, and off of sitting county commissioners, 127 00:07:56,060 --> 00:07:59,850 because there are also some mandates that come down from the state and the 128 00:07:59,850 --> 00:08:04,690 federal level, uh, that counties have to perform to. Uh, 129 00:08:04,690 --> 00:08:09,690 but they, they don't normally get the funding from the state or federal level 130 00:08:10,020 --> 00:08:13,970 to provide certain services. So, uh, let's expand upon, uh, 131 00:08:13,970 --> 00:08:16,570 how you plan to provide services while, uh, 132 00:08:16,570 --> 00:08:18,890 being responsible with the taxpayer's dollars. 133 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,490 Absolutely. That's an excellent question, 134 00:08:21,490 --> 00:08:25,690 and it is something that I've thought a lot about and, you know, I, I make, 135 00:08:25,690 --> 00:08:26,890 make no mistake about it. 136 00:08:26,890 --> 00:08:30,130 This is going to be a challenge and it's going to be an uphill battle, 137 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:33,930 but I think it can be done and I think it should be done. Uh, 138 00:08:34,110 --> 00:08:37,010 one of the ways we can accomplish, uh, 139 00:08:37,530 --> 00:08:41,890 providing quality constituent services to the community at large, 140 00:08:41,890 --> 00:08:45,570 while also being fiscally responsible would be to explore other streams of 141 00:08:45,570 --> 00:08:49,090 revenue, uh, beyond tax. Now, here in Green County, 142 00:08:49,090 --> 00:08:52,850 of course we have the fairgrounds, that's a source of revenue for the county. 143 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:57,680 I would like to see us utilize that more. I would like to see, uh, 144 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:02,120 other streams of revenue being explored. I would like to see more, uh, 145 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,280 more taxable assets moving into this county, uh, such as industry. 146 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,720 And one such possibility for that, uh, 147 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,160 would actually be the fabrication of semiconductors, uh, 148 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,000 which you might be familiar with to some degree. Uh, 149 00:09:17,110 --> 00:09:21,960 I believe the federal government actually just started offering incentives to 150 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:26,760 localities to help them set up these semiconductor fabrication plants 151 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:28,320 domestically. Uh, 152 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,840 cuz during Covid they realized that we don't have a whole lot of domestic 153 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,880 production for semiconductors. And that's something we've really been lacking. 154 00:09:36,260 --> 00:09:41,200 And if we can do something like that here in Green County, we can, uh, 155 00:09:41,970 --> 00:09:44,680 uh, not only create perhaps thousands of jobs, 156 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:49,550 but we can also create a major source of tax revenue from 157 00:09:49,550 --> 00:09:54,510 from that business. Uh, beyond that, I would like to see, uh, 158 00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:58,310 some of the budget to be reevaluated. Uh, 159 00:09:58,310 --> 00:10:02,630 there's a few errors of the budget I would like to explore. In particular, 160 00:10:02,980 --> 00:10:07,110 it's very difficult to do that currently cuz of the vagueness of how our budget 161 00:10:07,110 --> 00:10:10,350 is worded. And that's one of the things I'm running on as well, 162 00:10:10,350 --> 00:10:14,110 is to reevaluate the budget, make it more transparent, 163 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:19,230 because it does not compare to the budget that is in Fayette County or 164 00:10:19,230 --> 00:10:21,870 Washington County or any other county in the Commonwealth. 165 00:10:21,870 --> 00:10:24,230 And I've had the opportunity to view many of them. 166 00:10:24,450 --> 00:10:27,150 The line items are not very specific, so it, 167 00:10:27,150 --> 00:10:31,510 it's very hard to determine what these budget items are. 168 00:10:31,610 --> 00:10:35,430 But that is something else I would, I would like to see being explored. 169 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:38,250 Sure. So, you know, 170 00:10:38,250 --> 00:10:41,610 when you decide that you're gonna put your name on the ballot, I, 171 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:46,290 I know there's some careful consideration that goes into that, but, you know, 172 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,890 I, I would think that everyone who puts their name on the ballot to run for a 173 00:10:51,130 --> 00:10:55,250 position thinks I'm the best person for, uh, 174 00:10:55,250 --> 00:10:59,090 for this per particular office. So go ahead and, 175 00:10:59,090 --> 00:11:01,130 and try to sell me and sell our listeners. 176 00:11:01,470 --> 00:11:05,690 Why do you think you're the best candidate for county commissioner, uh, 177 00:11:05,690 --> 00:11:07,610 in Green County this, this cycle? 178 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:13,730 Sure. Uh, the, I'd say the most objective standard is my age, 179 00:11:13,730 --> 00:11:17,770 which some people might look as a negative. I see it as a positive, uh, 180 00:11:17,970 --> 00:11:20,210 being that I'm the youngest candidate in this race, 181 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,570 that just means I'm going to be here for I hope a long time <laugh>. 182 00:11:25,570 --> 00:11:28,010 And being that I hope to be here for a long time, 183 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:32,410 I have an invested interest in making this county prosperous. 184 00:11:33,180 --> 00:11:36,570 In addition to that, I have also had the work history where, you know, 185 00:11:36,570 --> 00:11:39,650 like I I've mentioned, like you've mentioned, I worked for the party, 186 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:44,010 I got to meet a lot of people, got to meet with both voters, taxpayers, 187 00:11:44,010 --> 00:11:44,970 and elected officials. 188 00:11:45,150 --> 00:11:49,170 And I have good relations with a lot of taxpayers and voters and elected 189 00:11:49,170 --> 00:11:50,730 officials. And because of that, 190 00:11:50,730 --> 00:11:54,800 I think I have an intimate knowledge of the issues that this county faces and 191 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,200 the best solutions to reach them, 192 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,280 and the best working relationship with current elected officials to help solve 193 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:01,113 these problems. 194 00:12:01,590 --> 00:12:05,520 Well, you hit a, a hot button, um, uh, 195 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,680 word that I wanted to get to, and, and that's relationships. And, you know, 196 00:12:10,300 --> 00:12:13,960 all political, uh, positions have, uh, 197 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,680 some requirement to build or maintain relationships. 198 00:12:17,690 --> 00:12:22,160 So as a county commissioner, how would you, uh, 199 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:27,160 view the relationship between county government and the citizens of Green 200 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,560 County and then also between county government and, uh, 201 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,560 the governmental bodies that, uh, that are out in your municipalities, 202 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:38,000 like your township supervisors. Um, 203 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,080 those are two different groups of people that you've gotta keep happy to, 204 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,240 number one, the the citizens and the taxpayer. And number two, 205 00:12:44,420 --> 00:12:48,840 the other elected officials that are going to be looking for you, uh, 206 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,800 for some help or some advice, uh, in their municipalities. 207 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,960 So let's talk about those two relationships. 208 00:12:55,670 --> 00:12:56,960 Absolutely. Uh, 209 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:01,480 one of the things that I've sought out to do during this campaign is to meet as 210 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,960 many township supervisors as I possibly can, 211 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:08,280 and I'd like to ideally meet at least one supervisor from every township in this 212 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,280 county. And so far I've done a pretty excellent job of that. 213 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:15,880 I'd say I've probably met with supervisors from probably about half the 214 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:20,440 townships in this county so far. Uh, I've even been endorsed by a few of them. 215 00:13:21,090 --> 00:13:25,080 Um, and I'd say I have a very good relationship with a lot of the township 216 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,400 supervisors that I have met, and I think they're, uh, 217 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,040 doing a lot of great work in this county, 218 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,080 and I'd really like to be able to help them with whatever they need. Um, 219 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:38,640 I'm sorry, what was the second part of that question? I, I don't quite recall. 220 00:13:38,730 --> 00:13:41,640 So, so number one was relationship with, uh, 221 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,280 with the municipal leaders, uh, which you've answered that, 222 00:13:45,580 --> 00:13:49,800 but also the relationship with just your, your average taxpayer, 223 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:51,800 your citizens of, of Green County. 224 00:13:52,610 --> 00:13:55,480 Oh, yes. Um, yeah, something that, 225 00:13:56,290 --> 00:13:58,400 so to answer the second part of that question, uh, 226 00:13:59,230 --> 00:14:01,280 what I believe also sets me apart. 227 00:14:01,330 --> 00:14:04,800 So building on the previous question as well is I am, 228 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,280 to date the only candidate in this is also signed the Taxpayer Protection 229 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:13,080 Pledge. Uh, so people know, you know, I'm here, 230 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,200 I'm going to protect the taxpayer, 231 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,400 I'm going to fight any kind of proposed tax increase, 232 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:22,200 I'm going to try to lower taxes. Now granted, I'm only one person, 233 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,280 and that's going to depend on a lot of cooperation from a lot of other people. 234 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:30,160 But I believe that my word is my bond, 235 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,960 and that is what I can tell the taxpayers that I'm going to fight for them. 236 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:38,640 I'm going to be the most fiscally responsible candidate in this race. 237 00:14:40,090 --> 00:14:43,940 Well, it's, it's got to that time where we have to get our first break here on 238 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,220 commonalities, uh, 239 00:14:45,220 --> 00:14:49,180 so we can recognize those that are helping to sponsor today's program. 240 00:14:49,290 --> 00:14:50,300 When we come back, 241 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,200 I wanna talk a little bit about your thoughts on government and county 242 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,920 transparency. Um, but before that, we gotta get this break in. 243 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,240 We'll be right back here on commonalities. 244 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:08,040 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 245 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:09,840 uncommon conversations. 246 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,800 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 247 00:15:16,940 --> 00:15:19,800 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District attorney, 248 00:15:19,830 --> 00:15:23,800 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 249 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,560 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 250 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,720 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 251 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,080 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 252 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,400 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 253 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,760 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 254 00:15:41,060 --> 00:15:44,080 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge. 255 00:15:44,110 --> 00:15:46,200 Paid for by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 256 00:15:46,610 --> 00:15:50,920 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 257 00:15:51,370 --> 00:15:52,000 If so, 258 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,760 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 259 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,760 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 260 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,680 expertise with a holistic perspective. 261 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:08,040 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 262 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:11,640 web design, social media management, video production, 263 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,080 and more for businesses, organizations, 264 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,720 and political campaigns with decades of experience. 265 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:22,400 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 266 00:16:22,620 --> 00:16:27,520 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 267 00:16:27,710 --> 00:16:31,920 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 268 00:16:32,250 --> 00:16:34,200 or visit us online at 269 00:16:34,820 --> 00:16:39,720 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 270 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,080 Instagram, and Twitter, 271 00:16:41,410 --> 00:16:45,000 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 272 00:16:46,910 --> 00:16:48,760 When it comes to buying a home, 273 00:16:49,070 --> 00:16:52,400 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 274 00:16:52,790 --> 00:16:57,160 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 275 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:02,120 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 276 00:17:02,470 --> 00:17:07,400 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 277 00:17:07,630 --> 00:17:10,040 gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 278 00:17:10,350 --> 00:17:14,520 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 279 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,040 dangerous wiring, 280 00:17:16,410 --> 00:17:21,280 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 281 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,960 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 282 00:17:25,090 --> 00:17:30,000 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed should be 283 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,240 your number one concern. 284 00:17:31,790 --> 00:17:36,720 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 285 00:17:36,790 --> 00:17:41,760 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds of 286 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,280 inspections under his belt. 287 00:17:44,150 --> 00:17:49,080 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk through 288 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:54,000 the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 289 00:17:54,190 --> 00:17:59,080 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 290 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,560 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 291 00:18:02,810 --> 00:18:06,520 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 292 00:18:06,830 --> 00:18:10,680 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 293 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,440 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 294 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:22,940 Are you enjoying the program? 295 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:27,140 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 296 00:18:27,140 --> 00:18:31,900 a donation of five 10 or $25, or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 297 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:36,020 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 298 00:18:36,020 --> 00:18:40,060 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 299 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:44,860 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 300 00:18:44,860 --> 00:18:45,693 online. 301 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,050 Thanks for staying with us on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 302 00:18:52,050 --> 00:18:54,650 My guest today is Cameron Downer. 303 00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:59,490 Cameron is a candidate for county commissioner in Green County right 304 00:18:59,490 --> 00:19:03,770 on the edge of, uh, the W MBS listening border. But, uh, 305 00:19:03,770 --> 00:19:08,570 we also stream this program as a podcast and have listeners throughout, 306 00:19:08,580 --> 00:19:10,210 uh, the Commonwealth and the country. 307 00:19:10,300 --> 00:19:13,930 So we want to give everyone a chance to hear, uh, 308 00:19:13,930 --> 00:19:18,930 Cameron's thoughts and opinions, uh, before heading into those polls, 309 00:19:19,260 --> 00:19:23,930 uh, here in just a few weeks For, for the, uh, the primary election. 310 00:19:23,980 --> 00:19:27,610 Cameron, before we went to the break, I said that, uh, 311 00:19:27,610 --> 00:19:30,570 I wanted to talk to you about, uh, 312 00:19:30,570 --> 00:19:35,330 the transparency of of Count County government. Um, you know, 313 00:19:35,620 --> 00:19:39,970 do you think that Green County is operating as transparently as they could be 314 00:19:39,970 --> 00:19:42,170 right now? And, uh, if elected, 315 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,730 what are your thoughts on how to be even more transparent with, uh, 316 00:19:46,730 --> 00:19:48,450 with the citizens of Green County? 317 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,070 I don't, I, 318 00:19:51,070 --> 00:19:54,670 I always think that there's room for improvement no matter how well you're doing 319 00:19:54,670 --> 00:19:57,870 things. I believe there's always way, 320 00:19:57,870 --> 00:20:00,110 there are always ways to be more transparent. 321 00:20:00,650 --> 00:20:03,190 And that has been a major theme of my campaign, 322 00:20:03,190 --> 00:20:08,150 is running on a platform of honesty and integrity and the truth in general. 323 00:20:08,970 --> 00:20:13,870 And one of the things that I've identified where Green County is lacking in 324 00:20:13,870 --> 00:20:16,990 those areas would be our bu our county budget. 325 00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:21,830 And you can review the county budget on the county website of I'm sure, 326 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,190 uh, you might imagine. However, 327 00:20:24,190 --> 00:20:27,910 the line items on the county budget are extremely vague and they're not very 328 00:20:28,190 --> 00:20:31,190 specific on what they're actually spending money on. And it, 329 00:20:31,190 --> 00:20:35,430 it's really difficult to decipher this and hard to break down what the money's 330 00:20:35,590 --> 00:20:38,150 actually being spent on. For example, when I, 331 00:20:38,150 --> 00:20:40,190 when I first started considering running, 332 00:20:40,190 --> 00:20:43,270 I was reviewing the county budget and I was having a hard time deciphering this. 333 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:48,200 So I actually sent this over to a friend of mine who has a degree in finance and 334 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,240 an mba, and he currently works as, uh, 335 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,480 a person who audits Fortune 500 companies. 336 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:58,400 And I sent over the budget to him and I asked him, can you get a grasp on this? 337 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,960 Do, do you understand what this money's being spent on? 338 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,880 And he came back to me and said, 339 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,760 he has absolutely no idea what any of this means because it is so vague and 340 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:08,593 disorganized. 341 00:21:08,820 --> 00:21:12,680 And we compared the county budget of Green County to the county budgets of 342 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,480 Fayette and Washington and, uh, Blair County and Indiana County, 343 00:21:17,220 --> 00:21:21,600 and those four other counties that I've mentioned have a budget that is so much 344 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,920 more organized and so much more transparent than Green County. It, 345 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:31,100 it's really very interesting to me that these other counties are able to 346 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:36,100 show what specific items money is being spent on taxpayer money is being 347 00:21:36,100 --> 00:21:38,660 spent on, and Green County, for whatever reason, 348 00:21:39,950 --> 00:21:41,260 is having a hard time doing that. 349 00:21:41,260 --> 00:21:44,260 And that is one of the major things I would like to address is making the budget 350 00:21:44,690 --> 00:21:48,820 more transparent and letting people know how taxpayer dollars are being spent 351 00:21:48,820 --> 00:21:49,660 and being utilized. 352 00:21:50,930 --> 00:21:55,020 Sure. So, uh, you know, from what you said earlier, uh, 353 00:21:55,020 --> 00:21:57,620 about the economy and, uh, 354 00:21:57,620 --> 00:22:01,300 what I kind of extrapolated from that is, you know, that, 355 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:05,300 that you feel that there needs to be more opportunity in Green County, 356 00:22:05,660 --> 00:22:09,900 probably more, uh, industry additional jobs. Um, 357 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:14,500 so my next question is, you know, what kind of ideas do you have to, 358 00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:18,740 uh, bring development into Green County? And, you know, 359 00:22:18,740 --> 00:22:23,580 what businesses or industries would you be looking to establish partnerships 360 00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:27,940 with? Uh, you know, basically how would you, you go about, uh, go about, 361 00:22:28,310 --> 00:22:33,140 uh, attracting, uh, additional business and therefore jobs to Green County? 362 00:22:33,870 --> 00:22:35,540 Another excellent question, 363 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:40,380 and one of the main ways we can do that is by offering a competitive 364 00:22:40,620 --> 00:22:42,660 business environment in Green County, 365 00:22:42,660 --> 00:22:45,660 we need to offer a competitive tax rate. 366 00:22:45,790 --> 00:22:50,260 No business is going to move in to Green County when the tax rate is higher than 367 00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:53,020 Fayette County or Washington County or Mongolia County. 368 00:22:53,020 --> 00:22:56,500 They can move into one of those other neighboring counties at a much lower tax 369 00:22:56,500 --> 00:23:00,460 rate. So the tax, there needs to be a tax cut, that is the bottom line. 370 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:04,380 There is no other way to get industry into this county that is number one 371 00:23:05,530 --> 00:23:09,620 B. You may be, you may be familiar with the, uh, 372 00:23:09,620 --> 00:23:11,620 Hatfield Ferry Power Plant. Yes. 373 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:13,500 Yes, yes, I am. Okay. 374 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,860 Yes. So, you know that they, it's been closed for some time. 375 00:23:16,860 --> 00:23:19,900 They recently served the demolition project. Uh, 376 00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:21,980 incumbent county commissioner Mike Belding, 377 00:23:21,980 --> 00:23:23,580 who is retiring at the end of its term, 378 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:28,500 has described the plot of land as going to be a vacant grassy field 379 00:23:28,950 --> 00:23:31,940 by 2024. Now, that, of course, 380 00:23:31,940 --> 00:23:35,940 would be prime area for economic development and future industry. 381 00:23:35,940 --> 00:23:38,420 It's right on the river, it's next to a substation. 382 00:23:39,110 --> 00:23:41,420 It it's an industrial area. 383 00:23:42,110 --> 00:23:44,620 It would be a prime area for something to move in. 384 00:23:45,410 --> 00:23:48,880 We just need to offer them a competitive business environment and it starts 385 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,360 flowing taxes. That's the number one thing we can do. 386 00:23:53,060 --> 00:23:54,230 Sure. So, uh, 387 00:23:54,230 --> 00:23:58,910 specifically any industries that you think would be a great fit for, 388 00:23:58,910 --> 00:23:59,870 for Green County? 389 00:24:00,860 --> 00:24:04,750 I previously mentioned semiconductors. That's just one example. Of course, 390 00:24:05,420 --> 00:24:08,430 what I think the key to a successful co uh, 391 00:24:08,660 --> 00:24:12,030 a successful local economy is diversity. 392 00:24:12,120 --> 00:24:14,110 We need to have a diverse economy. 393 00:24:14,110 --> 00:24:17,350 So we're not dependent on any one economic sector, 394 00:24:18,490 --> 00:24:23,230 and I would be more than happy to work with any type of industry or any type of 395 00:24:23,350 --> 00:24:26,910 business that wants to move in here, wants to contribute to this county, 396 00:24:26,910 --> 00:24:30,950 wants to create jobs, wants to grow this county and make it prosperous. 397 00:24:30,950 --> 00:24:34,550 And I would be willing to help with pretty much any industry that wants to move 398 00:24:34,550 --> 00:24:39,110 in, whether it's natural gas or fossil fuels or technology or 399 00:24:39,110 --> 00:24:42,230 agriculture or any number of economic sectors. 400 00:24:43,340 --> 00:24:48,330 So let's migrate from our conversation about economic development 401 00:24:48,550 --> 00:24:50,810 and, uh, about kind of the, 402 00:24:50,810 --> 00:24:55,650 the fiscal management of the county and let's talk about public policy. 403 00:24:56,070 --> 00:24:59,210 And, uh, my question specifically is, you know, 404 00:24:59,210 --> 00:25:04,210 what type of public policy changes would you make to improve 405 00:25:04,210 --> 00:25:09,210 the lives of, of Green County citizens? You know, how could, um, you know, 406 00:25:09,210 --> 00:25:13,010 day-to-day business at the courthouse be done differently, uh, 407 00:25:13,010 --> 00:25:15,370 to improve lives of, of Green County and. 408 00:25:16,690 --> 00:25:19,050 Right, right now in Green County, 409 00:25:19,050 --> 00:25:21,890 we've got a lot of infighting with certain county departments. 410 00:25:21,940 --> 00:25:25,330 There's a serious lack of cooperation between 411 00:25:27,020 --> 00:25:28,550 a variety of departments, 412 00:25:28,550 --> 00:25:33,310 especially if those departments are not hired by the Board of 413 00:25:33,310 --> 00:25:36,910 Commissioners, but are elected separately. So the DA's office, for example, 414 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,710 is one of those. There's a lot of infighting there, 415 00:25:39,970 --> 00:25:41,350 not a whole lot of cooperation. 416 00:25:41,350 --> 00:25:45,750 And I believe that is not in the best interests of the constituents that we 417 00:25:45,750 --> 00:25:50,750 serve. And I would like to see more cooperation, and I'd like to see a, 418 00:25:50,750 --> 00:25:55,470 a lot of the partisanship be put to an end. And I, 419 00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:59,110 I believe that that would be in the best interest of the people of Green County. 420 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,830 So let me play devil's ad advocate for a moment. You know, it's, 421 00:26:03,830 --> 00:26:08,310 it's easy to say, you know, we need additional cooperation between, 422 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,750 uh, different elected officials and different departments within the county. Um, 423 00:26:13,810 --> 00:26:17,830 but, you know, how do you actually make that dream become a, a reality? 424 00:26:17,850 --> 00:26:20,070 How do you, um, you know, 425 00:26:20,620 --> 00:26:25,510 when you have un unwilling partisan individuals that, 426 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:30,390 uh, may be in different offices, how do you kind of force them to play nice and, 427 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:34,350 uh, to do what's right for, for the citizens of the county? 428 00:26:35,110 --> 00:26:35,670 Right. 429 00:26:35,670 --> 00:26:40,190 And I believe that the best way to do that is at the ballot box. 430 00:26:40,190 --> 00:26:42,270 You have to hold elected officials accountable. 431 00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:47,040 And the best way to do that is to be an informed voter and elect the best people 432 00:26:47,570 --> 00:26:51,680 to be in office. And, you know, I, I could sit here and, you know, 433 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:55,760 try to sell you the earth, but at the end of the day, 434 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,680 it's voters that hold these elected officials accountable. 435 00:26:58,980 --> 00:27:03,560 And I can do my part and try to work with them and try to call them out when 436 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:04,520 they need to be called out. 437 00:27:05,910 --> 00:27:09,050 But I'm only one man and I need people's help to do that. 438 00:27:10,930 --> 00:27:14,440 So, you know, I, I know that I've been watching on, on Facebook, 439 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:19,320 and I know you've been out, uh, campaigning and meeting with people. Um, 440 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:24,200 you know, I I wanna ask you, what, what has been your biggest takeaway? Um, 441 00:27:24,670 --> 00:27:28,360 I, I always, you know, in, in some respects, 442 00:27:28,470 --> 00:27:30,960 I disliked the fact that, uh, 443 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,120 that I was campaigning every other year for a two year position. 444 00:27:34,380 --> 00:27:37,800 But at the same point in time, I really enjoyed, uh, 445 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:41,600 a lot of the conversations that I got to have with constituents at their front 446 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,600 doors, on their front porches. Um, because it, 447 00:27:45,810 --> 00:27:49,120 it was a completely different perspective and it, uh, 448 00:27:49,120 --> 00:27:52,480 it told me what the voters were really interested in. 449 00:27:52,810 --> 00:27:56,960 So tell me a little bit about what you've seen on the campaign trail, uh, 450 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,640 what you've enjoyed and, and what kind of feedback you're getting from, uh, 451 00:28:00,670 --> 00:28:04,960 from the people that will ultimately make the decision about who will, uh, 452 00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:08,800 who will be filling the county commissioner positions there in Green County. 453 00:28:09,150 --> 00:28:10,640 Yeah, absolutely. Uh, 454 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,000 one of the big things that I've tried to do on this campaign is I'm, 455 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,080 I'm trying to visit a lot of the local fire departments. So of course, 456 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:21,480 being the London season, a lot of them are hosting fish fries. 457 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:26,350 And so I decided I will visit every fire department in this 458 00:28:26,350 --> 00:28:27,910 county that is hosting a fish fry. 459 00:28:28,330 --> 00:28:32,310 And that's very important to me because I myself, you know, 460 00:28:32,310 --> 00:28:34,390 I'm a member of the Mountain Moore Volunteer Fire Company. 461 00:28:34,660 --> 00:28:38,630 I've been a firefighter for a, a little over a year now. And, uh, 462 00:28:38,630 --> 00:28:42,190 I'm a big supporter of local fire departments, and I'd like to see what they, 463 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,190 uh, what they need and like to hear from them. And so that's what I did. 464 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:51,070 In fact, I just, this past Friday, I visited the last fire department, um, 465 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:52,033 on my list, 466 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:57,510 and I got to meet a lot of firefighters and the first responders and the 467 00:28:57,510 --> 00:28:58,343 fire chiefs. 468 00:28:58,490 --> 00:29:03,350 And I can tell you there's one of the big things that this county needs is to 469 00:29:04,660 --> 00:29:08,550 really reevaluate the status of our nine one operations center. 470 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:14,270 Uh, th that is a major thing. Um, I'm try, I'm, 471 00:29:14,270 --> 00:29:17,190 I'm trying to avoid going to too much detail cause I could be here, you know, 472 00:29:17,190 --> 00:29:21,580 all day talking about this. But, um, over this past summer, 473 00:29:21,580 --> 00:29:25,140 there was an issue with the 9 1 1 center, uh, 474 00:29:25,140 --> 00:29:27,460 where an ambulance was not dispatched, and unfortunately, 475 00:29:27,460 --> 00:29:31,900 an individual did die as a result. And I actually knew that family personally. 476 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:36,060 And after that event, uh, a member of that family actually came to me and said, 477 00:29:36,060 --> 00:29:38,980 something needs to be done. Somebody needs to run for county commissioner. 478 00:29:38,980 --> 00:29:42,120 And at the time, I wasn't really interested in doing it, but I, 479 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,960 I kind of got talked into it. And that's part of the reason I'm running today, 480 00:29:46,540 --> 00:29:49,800 but I'm going off on a tangent. Um, yeah, I'm trying to, 481 00:29:51,450 --> 00:29:55,210 uh, <laugh> uh, trying to, uh, 482 00:29:55,210 --> 00:29:58,450 talk to some of the fire departments and things of that nature and hearing what 483 00:29:58,450 --> 00:30:00,050 they need. That's, that's a big thing. 484 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:05,170 Well in. And so while we are on the, the subject of, 485 00:30:05,460 --> 00:30:10,130 uh, emergency personnel and, and of our fire departments and, uh, you know, 486 00:30:10,190 --> 00:30:14,490 Pennsylvania's in a, uh, little bit of a predicament, um, 487 00:30:14,900 --> 00:30:17,490 in, in other states are as well, where, you know, 488 00:30:17,490 --> 00:30:20,530 we have a mostly volunteer run, uh, 489 00:30:20,730 --> 00:30:22,970 fire service throughout the commonwealth. Uh, 490 00:30:22,970 --> 00:30:27,810 there there are only so many paid companies, uh, that are out there. Uh, 491 00:30:27,810 --> 00:30:29,490 and they're kind of few and far between, 492 00:30:29,510 --> 00:30:34,410 and we have less and less people that are volunteering to be, be firemen, 493 00:30:34,980 --> 00:30:39,090 uh, now. And we, we are seeing huge decreases in, 494 00:30:39,660 --> 00:30:43,690 uh, the number of volunteer firefighters that we have, um, 495 00:30:43,690 --> 00:30:48,050 from 1980 in until now, the numbers are, are just staggering. 496 00:30:48,660 --> 00:30:49,570 Um, you know, 497 00:30:49,570 --> 00:30:53,410 I guess we can personally support our fire departments by going and, 498 00:30:53,510 --> 00:30:58,170 and making a donation and, uh, and visiting those fish fries and, 499 00:30:58,580 --> 00:31:03,330 uh, and things of that nature. But as a county commissioner, um, 500 00:31:03,710 --> 00:31:08,290 how do you think you will have influence or the ability 501 00:31:08,740 --> 00:31:12,130 to help out, uh, with, with some of those, uh, 502 00:31:12,130 --> 00:31:14,530 fire related needs that are happening? 503 00:31:15,590 --> 00:31:20,090 Yes. So I actually spoke to, uh, my fire chief down at Mount Morris, and, uh, 504 00:31:20,090 --> 00:31:21,130 we were discussing, you know, 505 00:31:21,130 --> 00:31:25,730 what kind of things needs to happen to make sure our fire 506 00:31:25,730 --> 00:31:30,720 departments and our emergency services have the resources they need to 507 00:31:30,810 --> 00:31:35,640 be there if there is an emergency. Uh, one of the big things are, 508 00:31:35,970 --> 00:31:39,120 uh, making sure that the right people are hired, uh, 509 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,200 for emergency management in the county. 510 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,960 So things like 9 1 1 director and things like that, 511 00:31:45,270 --> 00:31:49,120 that that's a big thing right there. Um, b, 512 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:53,960 making sure they have the tools they need, the equipment, uh, helping them, uh, 513 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,040 procure grants for things, uh, that they need, whatever they are. 514 00:31:58,310 --> 00:32:00,600 I know a big thing right now with at least our department, 515 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,600 and I believe a lot of other departments across the county need radios. Uh, 516 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:08,960 the radios we have right now are, are really not adequate, uh, for use. 517 00:32:09,470 --> 00:32:14,040 They have a lot of problems. That's another thing. And like I said, 518 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:18,600 I could be here all day going on about what the fire departments need, 519 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,360 just like I said, I, myself and my with the fire department. 520 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:27,020 But I'll, I'll just give you those two examples just to start. 521 00:32:27,490 --> 00:32:29,020 Sure. And, and you know, I, 522 00:32:29,020 --> 00:32:33,460 I'm just gonna go with a short piece of commentary that I have for volunteer 523 00:32:33,460 --> 00:32:38,220 firefighters. I, you know, I, I was never a volunteer firefighter myself, but, 524 00:32:38,220 --> 00:32:42,440 uh, I grew up in a household where my dad was a volunteer firefighter, 525 00:32:42,570 --> 00:32:45,800 my mother, uh, when she was going through nursing school. 526 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:50,360 And a little bit after that, uh, ran on a volunteer Ambulance corps. 527 00:32:51,010 --> 00:32:55,360 Um, so, you know, I, I know the type of sacrifices that people make, and it, 528 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,880 and it continues to, um, 529 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:02,280 kind of shock me that here in Pennsylvania with our volunteer firemen, 530 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:07,080 we not only expect these guys to run into dangerous situations 531 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:11,960 when everyone else is running out, but we also expect them to sell Hogans, 532 00:33:12,530 --> 00:33:17,480 uh, you know, and, and have bingos on, you know, Thursday or Saturday morning, 533 00:33:18,450 --> 00:33:19,640 um, you know, 534 00:33:19,850 --> 00:33:24,840 so that they can afford equipment that is vital to their safety and 535 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:29,360 security. And, uh, and I think that here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 536 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:34,520 while I don't wanna see any additional taxation, I do think that, uh, the, 537 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:39,000 the state, uh, fire Commissioner's office and uh, 538 00:33:39,220 --> 00:33:44,200 and the General Assembly need to find some ways to provide some additional 539 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:48,880 financial support to our volunteer fire departments. Um, and, 540 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:53,640 and really that trickles down to, uh, every citizen, uh, 541 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,840 of the county because, you know, you're, your, uh, 542 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,680 insurance on your home or on your apartment, 543 00:34:00,730 --> 00:34:05,320 or on wherever you live is based in part, uh, on, you know, 544 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:09,000 what type of fire service you have there. So, uh, special thanks to, 545 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:13,360 to you and to all of the, uh, the people that are volunteer firemen out there. 546 00:34:13,650 --> 00:34:18,280 We have to get our final break in on today's show. When we come back, uh, 547 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,440 we will have under five minutes left, but, uh, 548 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:24,680 I want to give you the opportunity when we come back from the break, 549 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:27,520 to give us your final thoughts and also, uh, 550 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:31,000 tell people how they can contact your campaign, contribute to your campaign, 551 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,880 or get involved if they'd like to stick with us here on commonalities. 552 00:34:38,260 --> 00:34:43,000 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 553 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:44,560 uncommon conversations. 554 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:48,560 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 555 00:34:51,660 --> 00:34:54,520 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 556 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:58,440 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 557 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,440 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 558 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:05,480 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 559 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:08,840 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 560 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,160 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 561 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:15,480 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 562 00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:19,200 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 563 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,080 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 564 00:35:21,490 --> 00:35:25,640 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 565 00:35:26,090 --> 00:35:26,760 If so, 566 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:31,480 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 567 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:35,440 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 568 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,440 expertise with a holistic perspective. 569 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:42,960 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 570 00:35:43,020 --> 00:35:47,920 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 571 00:35:47,940 --> 00:35:52,360 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 572 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:57,160 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 573 00:35:57,380 --> 00:36:02,360 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 574 00:36:02,590 --> 00:36:06,640 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 575 00:36:06,930 --> 00:36:08,960 or visit us online at 576 00:36:09,540 --> 00:36:14,240 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 577 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:15,640 Instagram, and Twitter, 578 00:36:16,210 --> 00:36:19,760 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 579 00:36:21,710 --> 00:36:23,680 When it comes to buying a home, 580 00:36:24,070 --> 00:36:27,120 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 581 00:36:27,510 --> 00:36:31,880 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 582 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:36,880 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 583 00:36:37,230 --> 00:36:40,440 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, 584 00:36:40,730 --> 00:36:45,000 granite countertops, gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 585 00:36:45,350 --> 00:36:49,240 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 586 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:50,760 dangerous wiring, 587 00:36:51,130 --> 00:36:56,000 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a home 588 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,720 inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 589 00:36:59,850 --> 00:37:04,040 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 590 00:37:04,150 --> 00:37:06,280 should be your number one concern. 591 00:37:06,710 --> 00:37:11,400 Dave Dowling with Grandview Inspections is an architectural engineer 592 00:37:11,470 --> 00:37:16,240 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds of 593 00:37:16,240 --> 00:37:18,080 inspections under his belt. 594 00:37:18,910 --> 00:37:23,800 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 595 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:28,760 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 596 00:37:28,950 --> 00:37:33,720 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 597 00:37:33,720 --> 00:37:37,120 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 598 00:37:37,370 --> 00:37:41,560 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 599 00:37:41,830 --> 00:37:45,440 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 600 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:49,200 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 601 00:37:56,390 --> 00:37:57,690 Are you enjoying the program? 602 00:37:57,690 --> 00:38:01,730 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 603 00:38:01,730 --> 00:38:04,730 a donation of five, 10 or $25, 604 00:38:05,020 --> 00:38:06,810 or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 605 00:38:06,810 --> 00:38:10,730 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 606 00:38:10,730 --> 00:38:14,810 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 607 00:38:15,030 --> 00:38:19,530 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 608 00:38:19,530 --> 00:38:20,363 online. 609 00:38:23,820 --> 00:38:27,430 Thanks for staying with us here on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 610 00:38:27,430 --> 00:38:30,550 My, uh, guest today is Cameron Downer. 611 00:38:30,570 --> 00:38:33,990 Now Cameron is from Green County. Uh, just, uh, 612 00:38:34,580 --> 00:38:39,560 just right outside of the W Nmb s listening area or maybe on the fringe of some 613 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:42,520 of the W Nmb s listening area. And, uh, 614 00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:45,560 Cameron is running for, uh, 615 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:49,080 for a county commissioner there in Green County. And, uh, 616 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:53,120 he's shared with us a a number of his viewpoints on things like, uh, 617 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:58,280 economic development and, and fiscal responsibility. Um, 618 00:38:58,500 --> 00:39:02,000 but Cameron, I wanted to give you a chance to just wrap up and, 619 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:06,800 and share with us any final thoughts that you may have and then be sure to 620 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:07,600 include, uh, 621 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:11,480 how people can get ahold of you or how they can get involved in your campaign if 622 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:13,680 they, uh, feel so-called to do so. 623 00:39:14,430 --> 00:39:15,560 Absolutely. Um, 624 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:19,720 my final word is that Green County is a great place. 625 00:39:20,350 --> 00:39:22,840 I love living here. I want to continue living here. 626 00:39:23,030 --> 00:39:24,520 I want other people to live here too. 627 00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:27,560 And I wanna bring more people to this county. I wanna bring jobs to this county. 628 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:30,520 I wanna bring growth to this county. That is my goal. 629 00:39:31,060 --> 00:39:34,440 But what we are doing right now is not the way to accomplish this. 630 00:39:34,450 --> 00:39:35,880 It is time for change. 631 00:39:36,410 --> 00:39:40,000 If you wanna know more about me or my policy platforms, 632 00:39:40,220 --> 00:39:43,600 you can check out my website. Uh, you can check out my social media. 633 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:48,040 That's Cameron for Green, that's the number four. Uh, 634 00:39:48,670 --> 00:39:52,650 I'm on Facebook and you can email me. Uh, 635 00:39:52,950 --> 00:39:57,130 all that information will be on my website or my social media. Um, 636 00:39:57,190 --> 00:40:01,970 you can get into contact with me either through one of those, uh, 637 00:40:02,290 --> 00:40:03,123 platforms there. 638 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:06,850 I assure you somebody will see it and I will get it if you choose to reach out. 639 00:40:06,850 --> 00:40:09,330 So thank you very much, Matt, for having me on tonight. 640 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:13,370 Well, thank you so much, uh, Cameron for being on with us. Uh, 641 00:40:13,370 --> 00:40:18,250 best of luck to you as you hit the campaign trail. Um, again, uh, 642 00:40:18,250 --> 00:40:22,170 I'm your host, Matt Dowling. My guest today was Cameron Downer, uh, 643 00:40:22,210 --> 00:40:26,010 candidate for Green County, uh, commissioner. 644 00:40:26,510 --> 00:40:30,970 You can find him on Facebook and other social media. Uh, and, 645 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:35,450 uh, I wanna make one more announcement, uh, as kind of a public announcement. 646 00:40:35,450 --> 00:40:38,730 I've been doing this the last couple episodes of the program. 647 00:40:39,180 --> 00:40:43,210 If you are running for a public office, no matter, uh, what it is, uh, 648 00:40:43,210 --> 00:40:47,770 it can be, uh, school board member, county commissioner, district attorney, 649 00:40:48,540 --> 00:40:49,000 um, 650 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:53,570 regardless of of what you're running for or what party affiliation you have, 651 00:40:54,140 --> 00:40:57,850 uh, I would love to have you on the show, uh, because even if, 652 00:40:57,850 --> 00:41:01,610 if I don't agree with you, there may be some listeners that do and, 653 00:41:01,610 --> 00:41:06,370 and ultimately want to choose you when they go to the ballot box in, 654 00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:11,410 uh, in the primary election or in the upcoming general election. So again, 655 00:41:11,860 --> 00:41:15,370 uh, visit me@matthewddowling.com, 656 00:41:15,720 --> 00:41:18,730 find my contact information and, uh, 657 00:41:18,730 --> 00:41:20,730 shoot me a message and say I wanna be a, 658 00:41:20,730 --> 00:41:25,650 a guest on commonalities to talk about my candidacy for public 659 00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:30,570 office. So again, if you're running for public office, feel free to reach out. 660 00:41:30,570 --> 00:41:32,770 Cameron, thank you so much for being with us. 661 00:41:32,770 --> 00:41:37,400 Today. And, uh, thank you for everyone who has, uh, tuned into today's program. 662 00:41:38,190 --> 00:41:40,200 This has been Commonalities, 663 00:41:40,510 --> 00:41:44,760 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 664 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:47,560 Copyright 2022, coordinated 360. 665 00:41:47,740 --> 00:41:51,160 All public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 666 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:56,280 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info coordinated three sixty.com. 667 00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:58,720 Thank you for listening to commonalities. 668 00:42:03,940 --> 00:42:08,400 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 669 00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:09,840 uncommon conversations. 670 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:14,080 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 671 00:42:17,180 --> 00:42:20,040 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 672 00:42:20,070 --> 00:42:24,080 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 673 00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,880 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 674 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,720 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 675 00:42:30,720 --> 00:42:34,360 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 676 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:36,680 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 677 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:41,000 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 678 00:42:41,300 --> 00:42:44,360 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge. 679 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:46,480 Paid for by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 680 00:42:46,930 --> 00:42:51,000 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 681 00:42:51,410 --> 00:42:52,080 If so, 682 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:57,000 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 683 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:01,000 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 684 00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:02,920 expertise with a holistic perspective. 685 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:08,440 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 686 00:43:08,460 --> 00:43:13,440 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 687 00:43:13,460 --> 00:43:17,960 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 688 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:22,680 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 689 00:43:22,860 --> 00:43:27,840 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 690 00:43:28,030 --> 00:43:32,880 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12 or visit 691 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:34,440 us online at 692 00:43:35,100 --> 00:43:39,960 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 693 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:41,320 Instagram, and Twitter, 694 00:43:41,690 --> 00:43:45,240 or email info coordinated three sixty.com.
02Apr, 2023
