Newcomer challenges Madison for District 12

FAYETTEVILLE — Sue Madison, the incumbent and a Democrat, faces Todd Crane, a Republican, for Washington County’s District 12 justice of the peace seat, which represents residents of south-southeast Fayetteville.

Madison said she has learned a lot in her two most recent terms on the Quorum Court and brings knowledge and contacts from when she served in the state Legislature.

“In the face of limited revenue, I think it’s important to have people who are tight with money and study the issues, which I always have,” she said.

No one has the right to complain unless they are doing something about it, Crane said about why he’s running.

“There is just a lot of division being sown and I just want reasonable action. We have to get away from just fighting about silly things,” he said. “Washington County politics for a long time have been short-sighted. If we are going to be successful, we need to be looking ahead and not just dealing with the issues of today.”

It’s premature to say whether or not a millage or tax increase is necessary, Crane said. The court needs to talk with other counties to see how they can work together, he said.

“Anyone supporting it at this time is looking for the easy way out,” he said about an increase.

Madison said she isn’t inclined to vote for either at this point.

“But if things evolved, I might be forced to do so,” she said. “The millage decrease

shouldn’t have happened.”

The Quorum Court reduced the millage in November 2011 from 4.4 mills to 3.9 mills.

When it comes to the crowded county jail, Madison said there’s no question they need to add space. That the state only pays $32 of the about $65 it takes to house a state prisoner daily is outrageous, she said.

“And when the inmates are pretrial, they are on the county’s dime,” she said. “Only our legislator can change that, so the reality is that we have to add on.”

Both candidates said fines could probably be used more as opposed to incarceration for many non-violent offenders.

If elected, Crane would seek a comprehensive solution to the jail issues after seeing what impact the crisis stabilization unit will make.

County officials have said they hope to admit patients at the Washington County unit by January. The center will divert some prisoners from the jail to receive mental health treatment.

“It will be a sizable improvement,” he said.

Crane would like to work with cities to improve services for the homeless and lower-income housing, he said.

“All of the services they need will be provided in one location,” he said. “The county can’t do as much when there is just a single city trying to tackle the issue. The county needs to take a leadership role. That is an overall theme of what I think is lacking on the Quorum Court.”

Madison said, “Even though our county is growing, there are many people homeless or living in substandard housing and we have an obligation to help them,” she said.

Justices of the peace serve two-year terms and are paid $200 per meeting night.

The election is Nov. 6. Early voting begins Monday.

Justices of the peace serve twoyear terms and are paid $200 per meeting night.