Boone County Commission candidates Charlie Kenner, the incumbent, and challenger Chet Hand have been defending their campaigns against each other’s claims. Voters know how the candidates feel about each other, but where do they stand on the issues they may take up as commissioners?
Health department: Local or regional?
Both candidates are pro-life, according to their campaign websites. Though, Kenner and Hand differ when it comes to plans for the health department.
While Kenner believes in a regional health department, like what is in place now, Hand wants to bring back a local health department.
Hand argues that a local Boone County health department will give the county more control and better serve residents. Kenner says it will give Gov. Andy Beshear power to appoint “pro-abortion health department officials.” That’s according to his website, cheatingchet.com, for which he is facing a defamation lawsuit from his opponent.
Taxes and County Spending
Both candidates are in favor of low property tax rates, too. Kenner’s campaign lists low tax rates as part of his voting record and as a means of improving the quality of life in Boone County. He added that plans to improve the county’s internet access and sewer services also have a hand in Boone’s quality of life.
“In 2021, I voted to lower the county property tax rate resulting in millions of dollars in taxpayer savings,” Kenner said. “Boone County has one of the most competitive property tax rates in all of the Commonwealth … Through infrastructure improvement, lower tax rates, and our strong job numbers, Boone County continues to have the best quality of life in Kentucky.”
Hand says low tax rates are part of the county’s duty to be fiscally responsible by funding essential functions of government rather than miscellaneous programs.
He said he supports “full transparency, regular audits, only fund critical elements of government and reduce taxes to put more money back in the pockets of the wage-earners in our County. People know best how to spend their hard-earned income. They don’t need the government taking it to spend on frivolous initiatives.”
What are they promising?
Kenner says one of his top priorities in a new term is fully funding the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. He says he wants to fund their equipment needs and support its School Resource Officers. Kenner has also received the endorsement of Boone County Sheriff Michael Helmig.
One of Hand’s top priorities is increasing transparency in the county, particularly in its financial activity and development decisions.
His campaign page states that he is pro-property rights and pro-responsible development. Hand states that development is a good thing, but sometimes approval for new development comes before the county has the infrastructure to support it.
Where and when to vote in Boone Co.
Though the winner of the race will be representing District 2, all Boone County voters will be able to decide who will be on the November ballot for the District 2 seat.
Early in-person absentee voting, or “excuse only” voters, may cast their ballots between Wednesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 11 during normal business hours at the Boone County Clerk’s Office in the Voter Registration Department, located at 2950 Washington St. in downtown Burlington.
The clerk’s office is open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The office is closed on weekends.