Jeff Harkins |
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(candidate for 2002 Latah County Commissioner, district 2) |
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1. Do you support the completion of the Latah Trail? |
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Yes, the Latah Trail is an important project for the County and I fully support its completion. My only concern is to assure that the County provides the appropriate security for both users of the trail and for property owners adjacent to the trail. |
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2. What is the county's appropriate role at the Latah Health Center? |
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Access to health care and health care facilities are of vital importance to county residents. The county must provide leadership in the health care and health services area. County budgets are going to be exceedingly tight in the coming years, but there must be continued (and perhaps increasing) support for Latah Care Center and Latah Health Services. I do support efforts to evaluate the health needs of county residents (near and long-term) and to initiate appropriate budgeting and appropriations to meet those needs.
While I am very cautious regarding long-term bond issues (they mortgage future residents without their input), debt support for health services is one area that can be justified.
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3. How can the county solve the problem of the shortage of space for county
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First, although I have searched for definitive reports outlining county space needs, I have not been able to obtain that information. If a report exists, it should be analyzed carefully for an assessment of space needs. If a report is not available, then a thorough assessment is essential.
Regarding alternatives for county facilities, I am confident that there are many options worth considering. Please read on ............
In my opinion, the most pressing need in the county is for "improved education facilities." Virtually every school district is coping with aging, inadequate school facilities. We cannot expect our young citizens to excel without the appropriate infrastructure to support the pedagogy (e.g., laboratories, technology). I have visited (recently), the school facilities in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls. None of our school facilities compare with those campuses. Yet, it is unlikely that county residents will approve both school construction and new county facilities. But it may be possible to consolidate efforts. For instance, if Moscow School District were to venture to construct a new High School, perhaps the county, the city of Moscow, some state and Federal agencies could acquire the existing high school and convert this facility into a government center (one stop shopping for residents). This would provide "start-up capital" for Moscow School District and provide additional space for local governments.
In the interim, county operations can utilize existing commercial space - e.g., the licensing operation. This strategy helps occupy existing vacant space and can alleviate current congestion issues around the courthouse.
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4. Should Moscow's area of impact be expanded or contracted? What is the best way to balance preserving farmland with the demand for rural homesites?
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It seems to me to be too early to judge the success or failure of the "area of impact." It is a good concept, created to help plan for growth - in practice, there appear to be conflicts and difficulties. It appears to me that the county and the city of Moscow are still searching for the strategies that will optimize the role of the "area of impact" policy. Potlatch, Deary, Troy, Genessee, Bovill, Helmer - all the municipalities in the county are encountering "growth difficulties."
One of the reasons I chose to run for County Commissioner was to involve the county in a leadership role in planning for growth and development, while at the same time "CAREFULLY" assessing and protecting our investment in farmland/forest acreage. The failure of recent efforts to design and implement a long-range planning and development policy are indicative of the crisis we face regarding land use. It is pretty clear to me that the "40 acre rule" did not work very well. The current "160 acre rule" also seems to have some problems for residents. Every resident of Latah County has a stake in land use policy. It is probably time to revisit the "Comprehensive Long-Range Plan" and examine, in depth and with an eye on the future, the land use needs of Latah County residents.
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5. Is it important to you to connect with voters (answer questions and receive input) via email? Do you plan to subscribe to Moscow Vision 2020 if elected? Do you plan to post messages to Moscow Vision 2020 if elected?
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Yes, it is imperative that interested voters communicate with me on the issues - and email is a great way to start the dialogue. I am running as an independent candidate. And I do not plan to pollute the local scenery with placards, signs and other visual images. I am seeking one on one dialogue and embrace technology to "help that happen".
This is a local election and I have confidence that the voters of Latah County will choose their next county commissioner based on their assessment of the abilities of that individual to confront the issues and serve voters' interests. I have opened a website to facilitate that process - and encourage voters to just "check me out." Then, contact me by email, organize a coffee or social (invite me, invite the other candidates), invite us to your organizations - get to know us - and then vote for the candidate that brings skills, perspective, leadership and integrity to the position.
I currently receive Vision 2020 postings and plan to continue monitoring the conversations that are posted there.
Yes, as County Commissioner, I will weigh in on Vision 2020 as the issues warrant.
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6. What book(s) are you now reading? |
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Ahhh - a question I can really relate to as reading is a passion for me. Daily, I am usually browsing through my library of woodworking publications to solve a problem, learn about a technique or just get some new ideas. And, the garden collection also gets perused on a daily (maybe weekly) schedule.
Fiction - favorite authors are John Sandford, Tom Clancey, Jack Higgins, Richard North Patterson, Amanda Cross, Patrick O'Brian, Nelson DeMille, Lawrence Sanders, James Patterson.
Non Fiction - Accounting research, forensic analysis, risk management and risk analysis, Wall Street Journal, etc.
Ahhh - a question I can really relate to as reading is a passion for me. Daily, I am usually browsing through my library of woodworking publications to solve a problem, learn about a technique or just get some new ideas. And, the garden collection also gets perused on a daily (maybe weekly) schedule.
Fiction - favorite authors are John Sandford, Tom Clancey, Jack Higgins, Richard North Patterson, Amanda Cross, Patrick O'Brian, Nelson DeMille, Lawrence Sanders, James Patterson.
Non Fiction - Accounting research, forensic analysis, risk management and risk analysis, Wall Street Journal, etc.
Currently reading "Jack and Jill" by James Patterson.
Currently reading "Jack and Jill" by James Patterson.
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7. Add your email address and any biographical information you wish. |
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Current email address: jeffh@jeffharkins.com or jeffh@moscow.com
Please visit the website: www.jeffharkins.com
Highlights:
Born: Minneapolis, MN (1946)
- Latah County Resident (District 2) since 1988 - moved to the Palouse area in 1979.
- Lived in Moscow for 11 years (1988-1999)
- Lived in rural Latah County for 3 1/2 years (1999-present)
Occupation:
- Accounting Professor, UI since 1983 - served as Department Chair for 8 years (always a balanced budget!) -
- and lots of other stuff most people don't much care about.
Selected Professional Activities
- Past President of Idaho Society of CPA's and held offices in numerous professional organizations.
- Member of Palouse City Council, 1987-88.
- Past Member of Lions Club of Palouse (served as President)
- Past Member of Moscow Rotary
- Past Board Member, Coach and Referee - Moscow United Soccer
(Organized first Palouse Cup Soccer Tournament)
- Past Coach Moscow - JV Girls' Soccer
- CPA (have been licensed in both ID and WA
Education:
- PhD (Accounting) - University of Washington, 1980
- MPA (Accounting) - University of Texas at Arlington, 1973
- BBA (Accounting) - University of Texas at Arlington, 1969
- Professional knowledge of governmental budgeting and accounting
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