Candidates in GOP primary for Oldham County judge executive make final pitches
Voters in Oldham County will choose from a crowded five-person Republican field in the race for judge executive.
Voters in Oldham County will choose from a crowded five-person Republican field in the race for judge executive.
Voters in Oldham County will choose from a crowded five-person Republican field in the race for judge executive.
Oldham County voters will have to pick from a crowded field in the Republican race for judge executive.
The candidates include former Oldham County Judge Executive and La Grange Mayor John Black, businessman Rob Houchens, Chris Haunz, Laura Tapp and Tom Sheffer.
Black said his experience makes him the best choice to guide the county through growth.
“I realize we're going to grow, but I feel with my experience, my background, that I can lead us for the next four years and manage the growth, but still let opportunity come to us,” Black said. “I'm the one who can bring the needed revenue to the table to try to make our passageways safer, add turning lanes where we need them."
Houchens said he wants to restore trust in county government and be more transparent about spending.
“We're going to show where our dollars go. We're going to show how the tax bills work. We're actually going to do a lot of things in terms of transparency,” Houchens said. “We have to do it through communication and information. Then once we get that, we can get people's trust back. Then beyond that, I also want to be looking at things like, how do we lower property taxes?”
Here's a statement from Tapp about the race:
“Oldham County has some great candidates running for office in this primary election. I am excited for what a future of smart development can do for the people who live and work here.
Data centers have been a huge source of conflict for Oldham County and I'm ready to move away from that issue. Good regulations are in the works. I think, at this point, it is unlikely that we will have a data center at any time. The only exception may be the state owned property where the reformatory now sits. I'd like the opportunity to work with our leadership in Frankfort to bring development to that location that benefits all of Oldham County.
We need a leader the community can trust to set the tone and expectations for our local government. I believe I am that leader."
Black said small-scale data centers could be possible, but not hyperscale projects.
"Each of us can look at small-scale data centers under the right conditions, the right terms, but hyperscale is certainly out of the picture," Black said.
Houchens said regulations still need to be put in place.
“We're going to have to number one get regulations in place. Get them approved. Two, have people at the table that you trust, not the people that were trying to go around the process," Houchens said.
Haunz declined an interview, and Sheffer did not respond by publishing time.
