Budget matters were the main theme for county commissioner candidates at the League of Women Voters forum Friday night at Riverland Community College.

Current commissioners need to cut the county’s 2009 budget by $1.5 million by the end of the year.

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Jim Nelson said the county is looking at cutting $250,000 each from the county highway, sheriff, human services and one other department. While the highway department can cut equipment, it’s tough to make cuts to the sheriff’s office without affecting services, he said.

David Shoff said he would cut health and human services, look at staffing, examine jail support services, and have an energy audit of the courthouse done.

Nelson is a farmer finishing his first term on the board. Shoff is a motel manager who ran against Nelson four years ago.

When asked for ideas to bring more industry to Freeborn County, Nelson said the county works with Dan Dorman, director of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency. The county’s role is “TIF and taxes,” he said. (TIF is tax-increment financing.)

Shoff said, “If we don’t get the budget under control and get the taxes under control, it will be harder to sell Albert Lea when neighboring communities have lower taxes.”

On the issue of broadcasting county board meetings and possibly switching to evening meetings, Shoff said he was “absolutely” for both.

Nelson said the county board recently voted to broadcast some of its meetings. He added that the board tried evening meetings in the past but public attendance did not increase.

District 3 surrounds much of Albert Lea and includes some of the east and northeast parts of the city. It also includes the outlet of Albert Lea Lake at the Shell Rock River, for which a proposed dam project has been a hot topic.

Some of the questions at Friday’s forum concerned access to public waters and the county board’s rejection of a combined dam-bridge project at the outlet of Albert Lea Lake. The county board voted against the dam-bridge project with some commissioners citing the need to lock in funding for the bridge and reluctance to pursue eminent domain to secure the land for the proposed dam and public access.

Shoff said he would have voted for the combined structure and while he wouldn’t dismiss eminent domain, he would like to see conversations first.

Nelson said he has no problem with people on the Shell Rock River but said he does have a problem with how they get to the river.

“It’s like people living here in the city. They wouldn’t like people crossing their back yard,” he said.

Nelson voted against the combined dam-bridge proposal because the county was still negotiating with the landowner involved and because he opposes eminent domain.

When voters head to the polls Nov. 4, it will be a choice between an incumbent with some experience and a new commissioner with fresh ideas.

Nelson stressed the experience he’s gained from his four years on the county board, especially in handing future budget challenges.

Shoff addressed the Tribune’s editorial on Friday that said he didn’t have the heart for the commissioner job because he waited to file for office. He said he hesitated to file because the hotels he managed were for sale and he didn’t know if he would have a job. In addition, one of employees took a leave of absence, leaving him with additional duties. He said he waited to file until he knew he could fulfill the commitment.

“My heart is there,” he said.