Candidate Snapshot
67 years old; Life-long resident of Jefferson County; Mountain Party candidate
Community Service Experience — 4-H and FFA, as a member and State Officer; Past Board member for the Jefferson County Fair; past Advisor for the Jefferson County Vocational Agriculture School. Currently an Associate District Supervisor for the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District; I have volunteered my professional services to several local volunteer fire companies, and also the Cities of Charles Town, Ranson and Harpers Ferry. I was also involved with the 340-corridor planning.
Work Experience & Education — A life-long farmer, working all aspects to include production, management and financial. Businesses created and operated (i.e., doing everything from HR, government contracting and cleaning the floor): Shenandoah Sales & Service, Big A, Car Quest, and a Cummings and Bricker dealer. Jefferson County High School graduate; FFA -American Farmer Degree; Complete two-year program at James Rumsey. (Agriculture, auto and machine shop); Nashville Auto Diesel School – Associate Degree.
The candidate’s responses below were edited only for clarity & spelling.
What made you decide to run for County Commissioner?
I want to give the voters a voice in making decisions, within the county, to include policy. A choice between a bigger government with more taxes versus the voters making decisions for themselves and not just on election day.
What experience and expertise do you bring to the role of County Commissioner?
I am a lifelong resident, volunteer, business owner and taxpayer. I have been engaged in government policies my whole life: both county, state, and federal (e,g., ARPA, Rockwool and grants). My experiences in farming and as a business owner, gives me the qualifications to operate the county as a business, leaving policy changes to the voter.
How do you plan to engage with county residents to ensure that the decisions of the Commission reflect the interests and concerns of all residents?
I plan to engage the county’s residents by making the agenda packet more transparent by requiring the agenda request form be complete when filed. Policy changes cannot be hidden as an agenda item. Policy changes will not be limited to the decisions of only five Commissioners.
What are the most important issues you expect the Commission will need to address in the next few years?
Number 1– Emergency services. Ensuring we can hire qualified personnel and provide them with a living wage, better training and transparency. Ensuring the County’s support of all organizations; to include volunteers.
Number 2 – How to pay for services in the 21st century. As J.B. McCuskey, State Auditor stated, in part, this County Commission’s under budgeting, (by some 40%), is at an end. This means the current County Commission has hidden tens of millions of dollars from the county’s departments, including the public.
Number 3 – Jefferson County Volunteer Fire Company Services. The volunteer companies have provided the stations, the equipment and trained the personnel. They have responded to the emergency needs of the county for over 180 years, with little to no help from the past and present Commission. The Emergency Services should be managed by those who have already provided those services and own the stations and the equipment. All the volunteer companies need is support for their station staffing.
What changes would you make to how the Commission conducts its business?
I will provide transparency in all interaction with the public to include notice of all operations of the county. i.e., contracts, bids, pilot programs (examples: Rockwool and American Public University). I believe the current Commission does not properly conduct business or adequately include the public. The Commission is to manage the county’s affairs, not to make policy. I have already challenged the Commission over the years regarding the taxes, public hearings, and comments to include Special meetings.
At the end of your term, what is the one thing that you would hope people remember most about your service on the Commission?
That I have held a professional manner of management through transparency. That I have been a voice for the people and resolved the emergency services issues to preserve the volunteer fire companies.
The County’s comprehensive plan will need to be reviewed and updated during your term. How would you suggest the Commission approach this review process?
I will include the residents, within the review of the comprehensive plan, with the final version to be voted on by the public. The Commissioners making policy changes needs to come to an end.
Why should voters elect you?
I, David Tabb, a lifelong resident, support transparency of our taxes. The county’s population has grown and the budget does not reflect the needs of our county. This Commission does not have the experience to take over the emergency services. Any additional change to emergency services, would need a referendum, requiring a vote by the residents. As a County Commissioner, I would work with the Jefferson County Volunteer Fire Companies to ensure the quality service that has been provided over the last 180 years. A vote for David Tabb will ensure the Volunteer Fire Companies will continue to exist.
DavId Tabb – Jefferson County Commission Candidate (Charles Town District)
Facebook: David Tabb; Email: DavidTabb195@gmail.com; Tel: 304-725-0423
In 2022, there are three candidates running for the Charles Town seat on the Jefferson County Commission (voters can select 1):
Clare Ath is the Republican Party candidate.
Dale Manuel is the Democratic Party candidate.
David Tabb is the Mountain Party candidate.
The Shepherdstown seat for the County Commission is also on the 2022 ballot. The candidates running for that seat are John Doyle & Jennifer Krouse.
Read More: The Observer’s Guide to the 2022 Election
By Staff Contributor