For those in attendance, not much was expressed about how these two candidates differ. They agreed on virtually every issue. Both touted their experience and how neither of them will let the current sheriff’s office situation impact their campaigns.
When addressing how the current situation is impacting his campaign, Acting Sheriff Sam McClure expressed that he and his campaign are focused on moving forward. He explained, “I have a large support system continuing in the works with my campaign and I will continue with my campaign moving forward.”
McClure’s opponent James Ott assured that this is not affecting his campaign either and is focused on his own qualifications.
He said, “Outside of anything else that is going on, if Jim Ott’s name is not involved in it, i don’t want involved in it. I don’t need to know. What I do know is this: I am focused on my campaign and my abilities and that my campaign organization is of the same.”
During the question and answer portion, there wasn’t much that separated them on the issues. However, McClure believes his experience in the sheriff’s office gives him a leg up. McClure has been Acting Sheriff since January and has served in the sheriff’s department for the last four years. McClure also served in the military and with the Altoona Police Department.
He detailed, “At no time will I be required to go to any type of an academy or school. At no time will I have to miss any type of work for that reason what so ever. I continue to do my job in a professional manor and continue to move this county in a forward progress.”
Ott, however, believes his experience and the fact that McClure has only stood in for the job for a short period of time means that both of them will need time to learn the position.
He said, “Though I am not already there and though I do not have those experiences. I am always learning, just like my opponent coming into it. He didn’t know it and he sure doesn’t know it all. He’s going to be constantly learning also just as I will be learning.”
Ott has served as the Duncansville Police Chief for the last 17 years and the supervisor for the Blair County DUI Task Force for 11 years.
A point that both candidates agreed on was how the department needs to upgrade their equipment to get out of what they both called, “the stone age.”