Columbiana County voters should not punish Cranmer

It would be easy to accuse Commissioner David Cranmer of being a tax-and-spend Democrat in light of his vote in June to impose a 0.5 percent sales tax -- but it would also be unfair. Voters who intend to punish Cranmer for his action should consider the rollercoaster history of the sales tax and ask themselves this question: Would an officeholder seeking re-election take such a major political risk if he weren't absolutely convinced of the necessity of what he was doing?
"I felt I was doing my job," the commissioner says of his vote to impose the 0.5 percent tax after it was defeated in the May primary.
So do we, which is why we endorse his re-election in the Nov. 5 general election.
Cranmer is being challenged by county Recorder Gary L. Williams, whom we supported for the Republican nomination in the May primary. While we remain impressed with Williams' commitment to rebuild taxpayer trust in county government, we are disturbed by his position on the tax issue.
He agrees that the county is in fiscal dire straits and that additional revenue is needed, but then he criticizes Cranmer for voting to impose the 0.5 percent sales tax.
"Citizens should have the right to vote on taxes," the county recorder says. However, he adds that he would be in favor of asking voters to approve a 1 percent permanent sales tax, which means it would not come up for renewal on a regular basis.
While we agree that tax issues should be put before the voters, there are extraordinary circumstances that justify imposition. In Columbiana County, the defeat of the 0.5 percent tax in May resulted in a major curtailment of government services, the furlough of county workers and reduction in salaries
Fiscal emergency
Despite the cuts, county was headed for fiscal emergency. That's because commissioners are mandated to provide certain services and they faced a $400,000 demand for funding from the courts.
Cranmer points out that there was no way to pay for these financial obligations "without shutting down the business side of county government." Indeed, the commissioners would not have been able to meet the demands of the courts even if all departments ceased operation.
Williams isn't being fair when he criticizes the commissioners for making a deal with the voters on the 1 percent sales tax that went into effect in January 2001. In return for approving the tax, the commissioners reduced the county's 2.2 mills inside millage by 2 mills. That reduction has cost the general fund about $2.5 million a year. Williams says that the 1 percent sales tax would have been approved without a deal being made by the voters.
The 800-vote margin for approval suggests otherwise.
Four years ago, we did not endorse Cranmer, choosing to stick with the incumbent, Republican Michael Halleck. We said at the time that Halleck's understanding of county government and his intimate knowledge of the budget made him the logical choice.
The voters, however, thought otherwise and elected Cranmer. We have watched the commissioner since he took office and admit he has won us over with his ability to understand the intricacies of Columbiana County government, his work ethic and his recognition that transparency is the key to successful governance.
We believe Cranmer deserves the chance to demonstrate what he and his colleagues can do to put the county on the road to fiscal recovery now that the 0.5 percent sales tax is on the books. We urge his election in November.