Five people serve on the Natrona County Board of Commissioners that oversee the county's governance, and two positions are open in the Nov. 4 general election.

Two Democrats - Ray Pacheco and Worth Christie, both of Casper - will automatically proceed to the general election.

But seven Republican candidates will fight for two spots on the general election ballot.

Some upcoming issues, including possible construction of a new public library and an improved juvenile detention center within the county, require candidates to think about funding and balancing the county's budget. Other issues request the potential commissioners to speak about the projects or problems most important to them.

Each candidate was asked the same five questions, and each given unlimited time to orally respond.

1. Do you support a sales tax increase to fund a new Natrona County Public Library?

Ed Opella: It's up to the voters, not up to the commissioners. Opella would do what the voters wanted, because that's what commissioners should always do.

Ruth Doyle: The library expansion is necessary, particularly in the computer area, but Doyle would like to see it managed in a phase process so the taxpayers aren't required to pay such a large sum all at once. She'd also like the library to look into grant funding.

Jim Judge: Judge supports the library project, but isn't sure that now is the right time to ask people to increase taxes because of the troubled economy.

Sam Hammer: Hammer prefers working within the budget, without placing increased taxes on voters. He thinks other avenues should be explored before jumping to tax increases.

Michael Corrigan: While not opposed to the new library, Corrigan would leave the decision about a new tax burden to the voters of Natrona County.

Matt Keating: As a sitting commissioner, it is illegal for Keating to advocate for or speak against any one cent project, including the library project.

Cameron Savage: Savage does not support the new library project. Increased taxes, he said, are not the answer and the county should have found a way to fund the project with taxes that it is already collecting.

2. Barring illness, is there anything to prevent you from attending all work sessions and all regular meetings of the commission?

Opella: No. His reliability record is excellent.

Doyle: No. Her work schedule will not interfere with any county meeting times.

Judge: No. Because he is retired, Judge said he can put as much time as necessary into commission-related work.

Hammer: No. The role of commissioner would be his first priority and only job.

Corrigan: No. Work shouldn't be a problem, and he's retiring in nine months.

Keating: No. While Keating does work full-time as a firefighter, he is able to trade shifts or work times to attend commission meetings.

Savage: No. As owner of his business, he makes his own schedule.

3. What do you think is the most important issue facing the county?

Opella: His No. 1 issue is how the county will fund ongoing and upcoming projects, including the county courthouse and a new juvenile detention center.

Doyle: Balanced planning and development and meeting building needs to provide county services are the most important issues facing the county today.

Judge: Deciding how to pay for major county projects and a lack of affordable housing within the county are two of the most important issues.

Hammer: Keeping control of the budget is the most important issue. The commission needs to look for ways to keep from putting extra burdens on taxpayers.

Corrigan: The most important issue is building sustainable county finances in the midst of large upcoming projects.

Keating: The commission needs to concentrate on building a new juvenile detention center and finishing the courthouse project.

Savage: The most important and ongoing issue is property rights. Citizens who purchase property in Natrona County should be able to use their property without going through complicated permitting processes.

4. What do you think should be the county's top budget priorities?

Opella: Maintaining services to the people of the county through salary increases for county employees and budgeting to maintain roads, bridges and county buildings are major budget issues.

Doyle: The top budget priorities should be construction and maintenance of county buildings, as well as services to community members such as streets, water and housing development.

Judge: Paying more attention to current outlays and making sure all of the county's payments are necessary.

Hammer: Maintenance of infrastructure and finishing the courthouse project.

Corrigan: Funding the proposed juvenile detention center, the completion of the courthouse and deciding what to do with the County Annex building.

Keating: Building a new juvenile detention center and finishing the courthouse are top budget priorities for the county.

Savage: Funding of roads and bridges, the sheriff's department, and the county coroner should be top budget priorities.

5. Would you support building a new juvenile detention center, and if so, how would you propose to fund it?

Opella: He agrees with the concept of building a new facility if it's necessary, but thinks that because it's a detention center, it should be built as such and not better than it needs to be for criminals. If adequate funding can't be found, he does not agree with a tax to pay for the project.

Doyle: She would support funding a detention center with reallocation of areas within the budget.

Judge: If a detention center is built, it should comply with national standards for detention centers and should be open to other counties for a fee. Funding could potentially come from federal or state grants.

Hammer: He supports the project, but the commission needs to look for avenues to keep the burden off of the taxpayers.

Corrigan: He would support building a new facility if it's deemed necessary and state and federal grant funds would be available for the project.

Keating: He has been an advocate on the commission for the project for three years. Using consensus monies and state grants could pay for the building.

Savage: He doesn't affirmatively know whether a new facility is necessary, but if it is, the county should look at bonding to fund the project.