For the complete special section, click here: Meet the Candidates

Kenneth Anderson

Age: 60

Party: Republican

Education: George Rogers Clark High School, class of 1975

Professional background: Local business owner

Occupation: Anderson Brothers Farms, co-owner/operator

Political experience: Elected chairman of multiple county agriculture organizations

Civic involvement: Clark County Cooperative Extension Council member

 

Greg Elkins

Age: 53

Party: Republican

Education: Morehead State University

Professional background: Business development and anagement

Occupation: Chief operating officer

Political experience: Clark County magistrate since December 2016

Civic involvement: Currently, I serve on the Clark County Fiscal Court, Clark County Road Department Committee, Clark County Storm Water Committee, Fiscal Court Community Foundation Committee and the Clark County Insurance Committee. I recently served six years on the board of directors at the Clark County Fish and Game Club, where I served as secretary for three years and president for three years.

 

Q&A

What will be your top priority if elected to office?

KA: Ensuring the citizens of Clark County are provided with the highest quality essential services — a competent and well-funded police, fire, jail and road department. Additionally, putting an end to the partisan politics that have become the norm at fiscal court meetings.

GE: I will focus on responsible spending of tax dollars. I will continue to focus my efforts on reducing the drain of our tax dollars by the Clark County jail. In my short time as magistrate, we have reduced this amount from over $900,000 annually to $400,000. We can do more.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

KA: I am a proud lifetime resident of Clark County. Being a native to the county, I have the best intentions of the 4th District at heart. I am willing to listen to and work with any of my neighbors regardless of political party.

GE: Experience in business management and budgets. I have made a career of building successful businesses, which includes managing hundreds of employees and multimillion dollar budgets. I understand the infrastructure requirements and the incentives needed to lure new companies. Economic development is what I do and I want to bring that experience to Clark County.

What professional/political accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

KA: As one of the first Clark County farmers to produce hemp since the 1940s in the state of Kentucky, I was sought out because of my innovation and willingness to challenge outdated ways of thinking. Change is inevitable, but progress is on purpose.

GE: My current company, Green City USA, was a start-up company in Kentucky in 2001. As chief operating officer, my team and I have built a company that now has more than 100 full-time employees and generates more than $28 million in annual revenue.

What is the biggest challenge our community faces? How would you address it?

KA: To survive in the future, Clark County needs high-quality jobs that will encourage our young people to stay and others to move here. Clark County can promote better business growth by creating a friendlier business climate through incentives and reviewing current zoning regulations.

GE: A lack of high-wage employers. While Clark County Public Schools does an outstanding job graduating college- and career-ready students, we lack the jobs needed to keep those graduates here at home. We should utilize our capital resources to develop infrastructure. We must change the way we recruit industry to include industry friendly incentives.

Other comments?

KA: Some of our currently-elected officials have a skewed view of their duties. It is not the job of a magistrate to micromanage other elected officials or county employees. I will follow the letter of the law to ensure our county fiscal court functions as it should.

GE: If elected, I will remain dedicated to changing our economic development model to be more aggressive in our industry recruiting strategies. I will remain vigilant in opposing wasteful spending. I ask that you keep me as your magistrate so that I can continue my efforts.