By Joe Redmon

Some of you are probably aware of elections upcoming on 3 November.

Prior to asking for your support at our polls, I think you deserve to understand why I am a candidate. I have three grandchildren living here in Meade County and I have grown more and more concerned about their future. I want you to understand the basic principles which would guide my service as your representative. First, I’m pro-life. Second, I’m pro-opportunity. Finally, I believe government has grown too large and needs to be made smaller.

While knocking on doors and speaking with your fellow citizens on their front porches, I’ve settled upon a very simple guide to be used for how one can logically decide who to support. If you view government as a good thing, it’s simple to understand you will see more government is better. And that is the opposite of what I think. Such a person should vote for my opponent. On the other hand, if you have any level of skepticism about the good vs. harm our government does or can do for/to “we the people,” I urge you to loudly support my candidacy.

I believe legitimate state government expenditures to be focused upon three large spheres:

1. Public Safety & Public Health (courts, jails, police, Medicaid);

2. Infrastructure (roads, water, etc.);

3. Education & Training.

Money spent within those three wide spheres will normally gain my support. If we appropriate money outside those spheres I will always regard that spending with some measure of suspicion. I see state government spending as OUR money and I will generally refuse to spend it frivolously outside the necessary functions mentioned above.

I am a conservative Republican and I’m unafraid to mention my political affiliation because that is incredibly important within a state legislature. A legislator’s ability to liaise and build coalitions defines his/her ability to accomplish anything in such an institution.

I will work full-time within a part-time legislature to accomplish just that. I urge you to consider all of this when casting your preference on Election Day.