Kevin Sell, Republican Candidate
Campbell County Judge-Executive 2010
As I talk with people on the campaign trail across Campbell County, many voters want to know why I am running for Judge-Executive. The main reason I am running for this office is so our county government heads in a new direction that serves people, not the politicians. More specifically, I want to change the way our county leadership spends our tax dollars.
It has become routine for the county to tax our family checkbook more and more each year. For example, the property tax has increased several times in the last 11 years compounding to an increase of 54% more in 2010, than what we were paying just over a decade ago. Such an increase is no way to govern at first glance, so one would hope that the windfall of tax dollars at the county’s disposal would be spent on growing our local economy and improving the quality of life in Campbell County. But in reality, our leaders are spending the money on things like a new county administration building and a clock tower.
This kind of cavalier behavior is happening in other parts of government as well. Congress is also spending money at record pace right now with dubious results. At the state level, the recent abuses by the Kentucky Associations of Counties (KACo) and the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) cry out for reform. When government spends money on itself before it spends money in our communities, it hurts businesses and families that are struggling to make ends meet in a shaky economy.
If I were elected Judge-Executive, I would look to do the same with less. My goal is to apply the same budget cutting techniques as we do in business and as I have done in the public sector. I will look to every department and service for further reductions. I will also look at areas to consolidate such as Sheriff’s office and County Police, Housing Authorities, and potential inter-county services.
We must bring back a proper respect for the taxpayer dollar. As much as this culture of overspending taxpayer money is an institutional problem across government, it won’t just take budget cuts from within. It will also take leadership from our top officials to change this cut, putting words to action. That is why if I am elected to Judge-Executive, I will not accept a pay increase during my first term in office. With the economy in the current state that it’s in, not many of us are getting raises, while some are not even getting paychecks. To accept more money from the public coffers as some of our county leaders have would be reckless and irresponsible. Just as increasing your tax burden in these tough economic times would be reckless and irresponsible.
In the coming months, I will present more ideas on how we can build a prosperous future for Campbell County, streamline government services, and protect the rights of all Campbell County residents if I am elected.
Kevin Sell
KevinSell2010@gmail.com
(Phone number for media contact is 859-743-6363)
