Senator Rand Paul has thrown his support behind Kenton County Judge-Executive Steve Arlinghaus in his race for reelection against current Kenton County Commissioner Kris Knochelmann.
Both Arlinghaus and Knochelmann are Republicans serving at the Fiscal Court and will face off in the May 20 primary. There is no Democratic candidate.
“Steve Arlinghaus has been a long-time supporter of what I am trying to accomplish in Washington, DC,” Sen. Paul said in a news release. “He shares my vision of a smaller government that is less intrusive in our daily lives and is living within its means. This makes him a great choice for Kenton County Judge-Executive.”
In the announcement of the endorsement, Arlinghaus said he is proud and honored to receive Sen. Paul’s endorsement and support.
“Sen. Paul and I stand united against big-government spending and for fiscally conservative policies and practices that allow taxpayers to keep more of their own money while providing a more efficient delivery of government services,” Arlinghaus said. “Sen. Paul is our nation’s leading voice in speaking out against the heavy hand of government regulation and in favor elected officials reducing government spending.
“Republican voters in Kenton County know that Rand Paul is a true fiscal conservative, and they know that I am the only true fiscal conservative in the campaign for Kenton County Judge-Executive.”
Knochelmann has been endorsed by former US Senator Jim Bunning and former Congressman Geoff Davis. Knochelmann announced the Bunning endorsement last week prompting Arlinghaus to respond that he finds it ironic that his opponent was endorsed by two former federal legislators who don’t live in the county and that most Kenton mayors have endorsed Arlinghaus’s campaign.
Knochelmann campaign manager Shane Noem responded Monday. “Poor ‘ol Steve Arlinghaus… he flip-flops so much, now he’s even doing it on endorsements. When Jim Bunning and Geoff Davis endorsed Kris Knochelmann, he said endorsements from outside the county didn’t matter. But when he gets one 4 days later from Bowling Green, he wants everyone to toss rose petals at his feet. With all the trips Arlinghaus has been taking at taxpayers expense, I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts dropping endorsements from all over the world. Keep a lookout for press releases from the mayors of Pasadena and Calgary.”
Senator Paul is from Bowling Green and is serving his first term in the Senate and is a speculated as a possible Presidential candidate in 2016.
Photo: Sen. Rand Paul