The following op-ed is written by Patrick Bailey, candidate for Boone County constable in District Two.
My name is Patrick Bailey. I am running for the office of Constable in Boone County- District 2. I would like to share why I am running for Boone County Constable in District Two.
I take great pride in living in Boone County. My wife and I have started a family here and I want to give the community a brighter future. I believe the officeholder for Constable should act as a guardian and must show integrity and principle. Over the last 20 years, the position of Constable in the state of Kentucky has developed a negative stigma. Many Constables in Kentucky do too much or too little. There is no website or basic information online regarding the Boone County District Two Constable. It is as if the officeholder has abandoned their post.
Who is my Constable? What does a Constable do?
These are questions I have been asked every day since starting my campaign for office. It is unacceptable to have local politicians not serving (in some capacity) the citizens to the point they do not know their politicians’ names or their basic duties. I attribute the latter to the current officeholder not being elected previously. Instead, the current Constable for District Two was appointed by the judge/executive and was not elected. There is a difference between an individual appointed to a position by a politician and a candidate that bases their election campaign on merit and patriotism for their country and community.
The citizens of Boone County should know their local Constable and what the office is doing every day to make Boone County a better place to live, work, and play.
Boone County deserves statesmen, not officeholders that have no intention of public service. I believe that although there is no salary for the position, the office has a potentially significant impact at the local level. There are two popular perspectives on operating the position best: the first, essentially, is to do nothing, and the second is to utilize the post in creative ways to serve the community.
Given the lack of official Constable responsibilities in Boone County, the potential for effective community outreach is immense. I view the position as a political canvas with great potential to do good.
My background is in criminal justice; I hold an M.S. from the University of Cincinnati and a doctorate (with an emphasis on business in criminal justice) in the field. I also obtained a second M.A. degree from American Military University in National Security and I am currently working on a third M.A.
It is my position Boone County does not need the liability of Constables patrolling the streets. If there is a need for additional deputies or police officers, I believe Sheriff Helmig or the City of Florence will hire recruits and train them according to the statute. According to the Kentucky Constitution, Constables are County District Constitutional Officers, not deputy sheriffs or police officers. I pledge to protect the integrity of the Office of Constable by not participating in regular or routine law enforcement duties.
I feel familiar with and passionate about the justice system and its operations. My view considers a focus on the justice system by initiating a citizens’ criminal justice academy, a youth mentor program, and several other programs in the works. I also intend to educate our youth in local schools by teaching students about our local government, its functions, and why it is essential to become involved in the constitutional republic process. The latter is an element I see dwindling in some communities around the United States. Political ideologies involving socialism, Marxism, and communism are seemingly becoming more popular from generation to generation. I feel that is the wrong route for our country. I am ready to represent you and be your next Constable. I want to hear from you and learn how to make Boone County better together.