Jo Ellen Litz
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Jo Ellen Litz
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People Above Politics Taking Action, Getting Results. 2501 Cumberland St., Lebanon PA 17042 274-1175 If you demand open government, drop me a note to receive email alerts informing you of meeting highlights that let you know how commissioners vote on issues. Litz@mbcomp.com Team Litz: Honorary Chair: Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll Chair: Jeff Werner Treasurer: Richelle Whitman
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Announcement for County Commissioner January 12, 2007 A bipartisan coalition joined Commissioner Litz on the Patches' farm.
This month is Thomas Jefferson’s birthday. He once said, 1) Do what’s right; know right from wrong; and pursue with steadiness what is right. Be honest. Do your duty. 2) Delegate authority. 3) Be wise in how you use your authority. Desire wisdom, which will increase your power. “The less we use our power, the greater it will be.” 4) Expect opposition. Men of energy, of character, must have opposition. Those who table the other side will be hostile. Honestly use your best skill and judgment before God and man. You will not always be right. Aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit when you fail.
v Putting people above politics, I have served as your County Commissioner for over 7 years and have first-hand experience with the problems that you face every day. v I owned and operated a business in Lebanon for over 20 years and know how important a positive business-government relationship is to economic growth and jobs. v I’m concerned about the cost of government and the burden of taxes on the voter, and pursued cost savings or additional income for taxpayers—sometimes with my colleagues, but often on my own. As your Commissioner, I’ve been Taking Action, Getting Results: 1. Saved Lebanon County over $23,000 in cash plus the value of a boiler through the year 2005 by re-instituting a Honeywell energy audit of County buildings. 2. Pursued and obtained a $24,805.25 HMC medical refund. 3. Pushed for re-bidding of accounting services. 4. Negotiated additional income on a methadone lease agreement (Approximately $160,000.) Plus savings from reduced treatment costs and transportation is approximately $50,000 per year.
v I understand the importance of accessible elected officials and government. As your Commissioner, I instituted a web site, newsletter, and email alert to inform people about County programs, policies and plans. v I’m concerned about the welfare and safety of all citizens. As your Commissioner, I spearheaded the creation of a free, easy-to-use Community Resource Manual for emergency planning. v I have been an effective Commissioner for you. I don’t yell or scream, but occasionally I do speak with passion, and turn obstacles into opportunities. v That brings me to today. In case you don’t know, it’s Farm Show week. So I had to hold this press conference on a farm. I’d like to thank Dean and Miriam Patches for hosting us today. Their farm consists of 146 acres, which have recently been preserved. When I’m done with my remarks, Dean and a few others have something to say about farming. 1. I have a solid history with Farmland Preservation. From 1989-1991, I was president of the League of Women Voters of Lebanon County, and presided over a public meeting to introduce the concept of farmland preservation to Lebanon County. 2. Prior to being elected as a commissioner in 1996, I served on the Farmland Preservation board. 3. As a sitting commissioner or as a citizen, I have consistently served on the Conservation District board for over a decade. 4. Further, six commissioners—Ed Arnold, Bill Carpenter, Phil Feather, Larry Stohler, Rose Marie Swanger, and I—have worked cooperatively across Party lines to save farmland. On your behalf, it has been both my pleasure and privilege to serve with two boards of commissioners in a bipartisan effort, as well as with municipal, state, and federal governments to preserve farms in Lebanon County. As a result, 97 farms totaling 11,460 acres have been placed into preservation in Lebanon County. This effort links our community’s history and future so that our traditions, lifestyles and values are passed on to the next generation. “We gain what we hope for. Hope. Even the sound of that word can lift your spirits."
Together we can hope for an exceptional quality of life with green fields, clean water, a robust economy, and good jobs. Yesterday, at the Farm Show, I listened to Allen Rider’s 25 x ’25 presentation, which sets a goal of using 25% of the total energy produced—we’re currently at 6%--from America’s farms, forests and ranches by the year 2025. Keystone BioFuels also spoke about their ability to turn soybeans into BioFuel. A ‘Green Industry’ would certainly benefit farmers, our local economy, and the environment. Further, as part of our National Security, we can reduce our dependence on foreign energy, which in my opinion is a worthy goal. So, one of my top priorities is to see that more farms are preserved. With a vision for the future, farming can remain a lifestyle and a successful business in Lebanon County. According to Sunday’s Lebanon Daily News, “agriculture remains the heaviest hitter in Pennsylvania’s economic arsenal. Government officials are looking to build the commonwealth into a technological-occupation leader, but… there will still be a great need for what our farmers provide regardless of what else we Pennsylvanians do to earn our living.” Please join me in a milk toast to support and honor the People who serve the People—our farmers. In closing, we need the best executive partnership we can get in the commissioner’s office. And anyone who is asking for the trust and confidence of the voters ought to believe that he or she has a real contribution to make and genuine leadership to offer. There’s no room to play games or for partisan bickering. Our charge is to serve the people of this County. I look forward to the opportunity to find long-term solutions to the challenges we face. I will continue to do the people’s business by working for realistic solutions to any problems we may face. Please retain me as your commissioner. “Do what is right as long as you can; Delegate as much as you can; and be as wise as you know how.” TJ God bless you all!
Where the north, south, east, and west meet—the approximate Geographic center of Lebanon County is the Dean and Miriam Patches farm. How fitting that it is also a preserved farm.
"Determining the geographic center of an irregular area on the earth's surface is a precarious business at best. There is no unique solution and none of any scientific significance. Several methods of approach are available. The one employed by the Coast and Geodetic Survey is probably best termed as the center-of-gravity method. Imagine a map of the area of which the geographic center is to be determined, has been placed on a piece of cardboard of uniform thickness and that his is cut carefully along the outline of the map. The center of gravity of this map outline, or what might be called the geographic center, is that point at which the map will balance--considering each having a weight, proportional to its area, concentrated at the corresponding geographic center.”
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