The candidates for the Third District seat on the Geary County Commission were participants in a Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored candidate forum Tuesday evening at the C. L. Hoover Opera House.

Republicans Keith Ascher and John Moyer touched on topics ranging from whether or not a county administrator is needed to their shared view that continued goods roads need to be maintained in the county.

On the county administrator question neither candidate supported hiring one for the County. Keith Ascher stated other counties do have them and they probably work in some situations, but he talked about his concern. “You can get a good one and it’s a stepping stone, they leave. You can get a bad one and they set you back. “Ascher said, “My feeling is as a county commissioner I would feel more comfortable and more focused by not having one.  Because by not having one and listening in the meetings to department head reports you pay more attention, you’re more right on top of it.” Ascher added your’re focus is better.

Moyer said, “I don’t know that many of our constituents in our area would be in favor of having a county administrator.” Moyer added perhaps having a financial person could be on staff, but also noted he would have to look into the costs of that. Moyer said listen to the department heads, and added he does own research as well. “I think that’s what the people of our district will be hiring us to do. And that’s basically what you’re doing when you vote is hiring us to run the county.”

Ascher and Moyer will be on the ballot in the August 2 primary election. No Democrats filed for the Third District seat on the Geary County Commission.

Approximately 60 people attended the forum.