Lee Burkett said he is running for Park Hills City Council because he has concerns about how the city handles public procedures, finances and oversight of city departments.
Burkett said he believes city government should be more transparent and follow state and federal law when making decisions. He also wants council to consider a wider range of viewpoints when addressing issues facing Park Hills.
Burkett faces Marty Boyer, Joe Brandner, Greg Claypole, Joe Daugherty, Steve Elkins, Dan Lutz, Pamela Spoor, Carl Trinkle and Dan Warner in the Nov. 3 general election.
“I believe in the public good, that many voices provide unique solutions, and that there’s not one right answer,” Burkett said.
Burkett has raised concerns about past city actions, including votes taken after a council member left a meeting, issues involving police department leadership and what he describes as the city’s financial relationship with a local church.
If elected, Burkett said his first priority would be examining the city’s use of public money involving the church. He said he has questions about city assistance with legal expenses, code enforcement and other actions involving the organization.
Burkett said he wants to determine whether those actions were appropriate and emphasized that he hopes his concerns about potential impropriety prove unfounded.
More broadly, Burkett said he wants city government to operate transparently and move beyond what he views as the status quo while considering different approaches to issues facing Park Hills.