TAXES AND SPENDING
I will work for our citizens and with our local, state, and federal elected officials to hold the line on taxes while providing the services we truly need. Raising taxes should never be the first or only option. Raising taxes must be viewed as a last resort. I will not vote to raise county property taxes or increase the pay of the county commissioners during my term. I have long been an advocate of property tax elimination and will continue to work for the day when property tax is eliminated in Pennsylvania. Instead of raising taxes, I will work to save the taxpayers money by finding ways to increase the efficiency of county government. We need to STOP Raising taxes!

CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY
We need to make sure that Berks County is no longer a haven for criminals and thugs. Drugs and the influx of illegal immigrants plays a major role in crime in our county.

It is important to listen to our local experts when developing a plan for fighting and reducing crime in Berks County. Before seeking the advice of people outside of our county, I will first work with our local and state police, the sheriff’s office, the District Attorney, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, County Constables, the FBI, the US Attorney’s office, the courts and local leaders to find ways to keep our neighborhoods safe. We need both short-term and long-term solutions. I will also work with our fire companies and EMS teams to provide better communication between departments, the police and county emergency management. We need to START Reducing Crime!

IMMIGRATION

I believe that illegal immigration is a serious issue here in Berks County and across the nation. While securing the boarders is a critical first step and an issue for our congressional delegation, I do believe our County Commissioner have a role to play.

1. Work with local law enforcement to see that when a person is arrested their immigration status is verified. If they are here illegally they should be detained until deported.
2. Any person seeking social services from the County of Berks should provide proof of legal status in the United States before receiving services.

This is not about being unkind or harsh, instead, it is about being fair to the people of Berks County who are paying the taxes to fund these services. We have an obligation to the people who play by the rules.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I will make Berks County more business-friendly so that existing businesses have the opportunity to expand and new companies want to locate here. It is important to work with our local economic development organizations to attract new businesses and increase job opportunities for our children and grandchildren. Next to managing the county budget, well-planned economic development is the single greatest function of county government.

There are four key steps to spur further economic growth:

1. Provide strong leadership to further unify economic development efforts in Berks County. My leadership will provide the following: a clear prioritization of projects and development efforts; a solid private/public funding base for economic development projects by looking beyond the normal public funding channels; and pull together the legislative power of our elected officials at all levels of government.
2. Commit to the Route 222 North project as the single most important transportation project in Berks County.
3. Work cooperatively with all levels of educational institutions to ensure a well-educated and available workforce trained in the skills most needed by industry. I will work with our colleges to attract their best graduates to take jobs here in Berks to fight the current brain-drain.
4. Provide both short and long-term solutions to crime. Public perception is reality, and if this issue is not successfully dealt with, it will cost us in both economic growth and jobs.

MUNICIPAL COOPERATION, DEVELOPMENT AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
I will work with municipalities, county planners, farmers, builders and conservationists to ensure a well-balanced plan of growth for Berks County that respects private property rights while also protecting the natural resources that are so much a part of the heritage and character of our county.

FARMLAND PRESERVATION

I fully support farmland preservation but I do not support using county taxpayers money to buy development rights. I have committed to work aggressively with the farmland preservation efforts to do the following.

1. Work to find other funding sources for the program.
2. Work with other groups like the Wildland’s Conservancy to see how we can cooperate.
3. Continue the existing efforts of cooperation between The Conservancy, Home Builders, Farm Bureau and Chamber.
4. Work with our local legislators and County Commissioner’s Association of PA to eliminate property tax as means of raising revenue in this state. No other issue would do more to preserve the family farm then the elimination of property tax.
5. Will support placing a question on the ballot allowing voters to decide on public funding of farmland preservation.

Note: Are the other issues you beleive are important? Please let me know what you think. Your ideas and opinions do count. - Christian Y. Leinbach

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