It was the last chance for voters to hear the candidates for county commissioner speak and debate the issues, but there was only a small crowd in the Hales Center for the Performing Arts on Monday night.

About 50 people were seated in the cavernous center at Southwestern Oregon Community College, but they heard little new information from the candidates.

Candidates for Position No. 2 on the board, Nikki Whitty, Thomas Matosec and Mickey Kincheloe, answered questions for the first hour, and were followed by candidates for Postition No. 3, Kevin Stufflebean, Timm Slater and Jack Christian.

In a change from the previous forums, candidates were asked by moderator Fred Brick, a political science professor at Southwestern, about increasing crime in the county and specific solutions to methamphetamine abuse in the area. Several questions concerning economic development, unemployment and attracting businesses to the area, received many of the same answers from candidates as before.

Brick asked the candidates about rising crime in Coos County and Sheriff Andy Jackson's proposal for a special taxing district to support more funding for the sheriff's office.

“Right now I'm against any new taxes,” Kincheloe said, “but you have to listen to all sides.”

Whitty, the incumbent for Position No. 2, said that while any new taxing district would be on the ballot, there will be a lot of studying and talking before any changes happen.

“I'm for it. It should be put on the ballot and be before the voters,” Matosec said. “The $15 million bond that barely passed is basically being used as welfare for natural gas companies, and it could have bought a lot of deputies.”

The candidates for Position No. 3 were less decisive, painting themselves firmly in the middle of the issue.

“Until I see the numbers for the taxing district proposal I'm not going to say for sure yes. But I am in support of these things,” Christian said.

Like Whitty, Slater focused on the process to approve a special district, and the scrutiny the sheriff's office would face if such a district were approved.

“One thing I'm not supportive of is enforcement alone. We need to make sure we include crime prevention, drug treatment and enforcement in the picture,” Stufflebean said.

Despite the serious issues the candidates addressed during the forum, Stufflebean took the lead in lightening the solemn mood in the hall. Although the atmosphere was subdued during the first hour, once the Position No. 3 candidates took the stage chuckles rumbled through the patchy crowd as the candidates poked fun at one another.

Tough on meth

The candidates were asked about forming a special countywide committee, in addition to the Coos County Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee and the South Coast Interagency Narcotics Team, to address the entire spectrum of problems associated with methamphetamine abuse.

Matosec said he supported the idea, but wanted to be sure the committee didn't restrict its focus on increasing law enforcement for meth abusers. Whitty also voiced support for such a committee.

Christian said he would support an additional committee, but wanted it to provide a wide spectrum of services.

Kincheloe, Slater and Stufflebean disagreed.

“I think it's an okay idea, but I'm also tough on crime. It's a crime if you use (meth) and a crime if you make it,” Kincheloe added.

Slater agreed, and said that any new committee should focus on increasing enforcement since most meth related arrests are actually for stealing and theft.

“I don't support another committee for meth problems because we already have two,” Stufflebean said. “We should refocus those committees instead of forming another one to handle this issue.”

When the candidatese were asked how they would improve the economic health of the county, more jobs was the first thing that came to mind for many of the candidates - but others had diverse answers.

“I have always thought we had a great opportunity for secondary wood processing,” Whitty said. “I think manufacturing jobs are so important, because they pay a living wage.”

Slater said that retail, health care and tourism were the three main parts to the county's current economy, but encouraged bringing manufacturing jobs to the area to provide living wage jobs.

Christian and Matosec offered a different perspective, focusing on the environment as a part of the economic development of Coos County.

“I think we need to restore the environment so we can go back to logging, fishing and restoring the environment even more,” Christian said.

Matosec preferred to discourage economic development that sacrificed the environment.

“Our demography is changing. People have decided this is a great place to live,” Matosec said. “I don't think we should try to ruin it with things like ship breaking. I don't think we should try to emulate the places people are leaving.”

Rather than focus on economic developments, Kincheloe said the county could be improved by uniting the nearby school districts under a single county school district, which would eliminate funding problems and improve the focus of education in the area.

While many of the candidates' strong opinions on issues didn't change, audience members seemed pleased with the chance to size up the candidates in person.

“I think it was most beneficial to listen to each and every one speak and compare them,” said Tari Fitzpatrick, of North Bend.

“I know who I'm going to vote for now,” Kathy Hosack, of Coos Bay, added. “I wish more people had come, because it's very clear when you see them talk, who can do the job.”