The following op-ed is written by State Rep. Ed Massey (R-Hebron), a candidate for reelection in the Republican primary on May 17
I am humbled and honored to have served as the State Representative for the House of Representatives – District 66 for the past four years. This position was the culmination of more than thirty years of public service, first as a firefighter/ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and 22 years serving on the Boone County Board of Education. In my time as your State Representative, I have had the privilege of serving as House Chair of Judiciary, a member of the Education, Veterans Military Affairs and Public Protection, and Licensing & Occupations Committees. During my term, I also served on the Attorney General’s Search Warrant Task Force, was Co- Chair of the Taiwan Caucus, and led numerous work groups on pensions, education, and judicial matters. I am honored to have carried and passed approximately 30 bills to make our community where we live, work, play and care for our families a better place to live.
My work in Frankfort is not finished. Currently, I am in the midst of a primary where many lies and mis-representations are being spread about me and the issues I stand for. It is important to note I have been a Republican since I first registered to vote when I was 18 years old. I believe in the federal and state constitutions. In fact, as a trial attorney for 30 years, I deal with constitutional issues almost every day. I am a Christian and believe that Faith, Family, and relationships are key to a strong community. I am blessed to be a son, father, grandfather and a husband to my amazing wife of almost 34 years. I am the product of public education and all of my daughters attended school in House District 66. Two of them are teachers and the third is employed by the Tennessee School Boards Association. I believe education is a civil right. I do support school choice and in fact I served as a Board Member in Boone County when Ignite Institute was constructed to give students an option to be college, career and life ready. It is a regional school with students from Boone County, Kenton County and from other districts in the Northern Kentucky region.
As a legislator, I have three passions: Judicial Issues, Educational Issues, and Veterans Issues. I am 100 percent Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, and Pro-Eduction. I want to help in moving our tax system from an income based system to a consumer based system.
My opponents have labeled me as liberal. Which is far from the truth. They have manufactured “Swamp Reports” and websites to condemn, criticize, and mock me. This is absolutely preposterous. I am against mandates, against higher taxes, and I believe in local control by elected officials in local communities. I have passed legislation to protect teacher pensions, re-organize fish and wildlife, provide for cheaper and quicker construction of schools, and several bills on restorative justice. Despite this, the opposition has labeled me a “liberal” despite my voting record and my work with leadership and the endorsement by leadership in the House and the Senate.
I have not resorted to negative campaigning, our community deserves better than that. I am willing to listen to community members, not just those who share my views. I believe in consensus building and collaboration. The negative mud-slinging is exactly why it is difficult to get qualified people to run for political office. I ask the voters to examine my record and look at the facts as opposed to the hateful and negative rhetoric that is being spewed by those who want a legislator they can control. I represent all people in House District 66, not just the extremists.
I have the experience and the capacity to continue serving in Frankfort. Northern Kentucky is blessed to have multiple committee chairs that directly impact the bills passed. As the House Chair of Judiciary, I have passed bills on criminal matters, child support, parenting issues, juvenile issues, court matters and a host of other priority bills that serve and protect families, businesses and our communities.
On May 17th, I ask for your vote to allow me to continue the work I began four years ago. I prefer to talk about what I have done and what can be done to strengthen the Commonwealth of Kentucky instead of belittling, criticizing or condemning my opponents. We have to rise to meet the challenges we face including inflation, Governor overreach, justice matters, roads and transportation, protection of Kentucky’s signature industries of Bourbon and Horse Racing, economic development like job creation and making Kentucky a preferred location to work, play and live. Will you join me? Please exercise your right to vote on May 17th and I ask for your vote.