Editor's note: Final in a series of interviews with candidates for Northumberland County commissioner.
Vinny Clausi is the first to admit that gentility is not always one of his fine points. He also concedes he has made mistakes at times as a Northumberland County commissioner and sometimes comes across as being a bit rough around the edges.
But he said he has approached his commissioner job the past 3 1/2 years with the best of intentions. Clausi, one of four Democrats seeking two nominations in the May 17 primary, said everything he has said and everything he has done as a commissioner has been motivated by his desire to protect the interests of county taxpayers.
Clausi said in his first year in office, he felt "all alone" in his efforts to reform county government and save taxpayers money, and this may have contributed to the perception that the county was in an uproar.
"People of Northumberland County were getting cheated every day, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, because people didn't care," Clausi remarked. "All of the uproar was part of the process that was necessary to do what was right. I was wrong the way I handled some things, but if that's what it took, so be it.
"When we lowered the debt tax, I had to yell at a meeting to have that done," he said.
More recently, Clausi said he regrets raising his voice to then assistant solicitor/Chief Clerk Kymberly Best, but he explained he was frustrated because "they tried to do things behind my back." Following the incident, Best refused to meet or speak to Clausi alone and she was eventually fired in March by Clausi and Commissioner Merle Phillips.
"I shouldn't have acted the way I did with Kymberly Best," Clausi remarked. "I will not react the same way again. But I will continue to fight for the taxpayers."
"I believe I have proven myself as commissioner," Clausi remarked. "People just need to look at my record."
Budget cuts
Clausi is proud of his efforts in cutting the county budget from $92 million to $64 million, which came about through the sale of Mountain View Manor and decreasing expenses in other areas.
"One of my main goals was cutting the long-term debt. We paid off $15 million toward the debt and saved $3.2 million in refinancing bonds."
Clausi has praise for a citizens' committee consisting of Joe Pancerella, Gene Welsh and Craig Fetterman, that helped renegotiate leases for county offices. Other accomplishments he cited were reform of the gas card program, eliminating fraud and the effort to have employees pay a larger share of their health care costs."
Clausi recalled that when he took office, the county was receiving only $260,000 in employee contributions toward a health insurance bill that amounted to $7.5 million. In 2009, the county instituted a policy for contributions from non-union members. A contract recently approved for one union, AFSCME, raises those workers' contributions.
"I have nothing against unions, but they must pay their fair share," Clausi said. He believes workers have the right to negotiate contracts, but added that arbitration procedures stack the deck against county government and the taxpayers.
Clausi admitted that at times during his first term, he began to experience physical effects from the stress of serving in a high-profile, highly charged atmosphere. In his first year, he only took three days off. "You have to go to work every day if you want to see what's going on," he explained.
Praise for Merle
Clausi said that since Phillips took office, things have changed for the better. This came as a surprise because Clausi had some misgivings when Phillips to the vacancy that resulted when former Commissioner Kurt Masser resigned to become state representative.
"I had concerns when Merle was appointed, mostly because of his age," Clausi said. "But Merle has brought leadership to the board, and we are all working better together.
"When I started working with Merle, I realized that I was wrong about him. He's very sharp, and a good person."
It didn't escape attention that volunteers supporting Clausi posted campaign signs for Phillips - "about 50 in all," Clausi said - at the same time they were posting Clausi's signs.
"I asked Merle if he'd like some help with signs, and he said OK," Clausi said. "What difference does it make? I was having signs put up anyway." Clausi said he also offered to help Commissioner Frank Sawicki with posting his campaign signs, but Sawicki declined the offer.
"That's up to the people in Northumberland County," was Clausi's quick response when asked if would like to see Phillips re-elected. Clausi, who is running an independent campaign, just as he did in 2003 in 2007, then said he would be happy to serve again with both Phillips and Sawicki.
Clausi mentioned, as did Phillips during his campaign interview, that Sawicki has an "engineer's brain," and, as such, likes to carefully study issues.
"Frank and I have had our differences, but I would be happy to see him back on the board," Clausi remarked. "I am happy to work with anyone who wants to do what's right for the taxpayers."
Clausi said he believes the county is functioning better since Gary Steffen became chief clerk.
Self-funded campaign
Clausi said he spent $120,000 of his own money in his first campaign, $80,000 in the second and is again to spend what's necessary to be successful in this election. The freedom to self-fund his own campaigns has contributed to his success in office, Clausi said. "I wasn't obligated to say 'yes' to anyone," he noted.
Clausi disputed candidate Dodie Lovett's claim that he approached her when she filed nomination petitions and asked, "what did I ever do to you that you're running?" He said that prior to her candidacy, he had only spoken to her once or twice on county business.
In response to criticism that there has been too many county lawsuits, Clausi said the only lawsuit that happened "under my watch" was that filed by two former deputy sheriffs. Clausi said this suit could have been handled by the county's insurance carrier for $25,000, but Best, who also served as assistant solicitor, wanted to handle the representation. "We've spent $37,000 so far," Clausi said, "but what choice did we have?" He suggested that failure to properly defend the suit would have sent the wrong message.
One more term
Clausi said he is proud of his record and would like one more term - and only one more term - so he can work to make sure county government does not revert to its old ways and to do more to restore the county to solid financial footing. In 2015, when his hoped-for second term expires, Clausi plans to retire. "I have worked hard all my life, and I want some time to enjoy life," he noted.