WCC Candidate Endorsement: Why and How
The reason for candidate endorsement is simple. Some citizens no longer want to blindly vote for party candidates with catchy slogans and broad, general platforms. This growing citizenry wants to know what candidates will do upon election, and how they will address important questions facing the community.
To learn more about local candidates, a committee of ten people gathered and started to ask questions, beginning with the Warren County Fiscal Court. The committee’s task was to study Fiscal Court business and choose issues to address in a survey that would be mailed to all candidates – Democrats and Republicans. After four months of discussion, a 12-question survey was developed addressing issues like crime, infrastructure, ethics, communication with constituents, transparency, term limits, and taxes. Survey questions were written using a Yes/No format so that a candidate’s position was clear.
Surveys were mailed to every registered Fiscal Court candidate — 25 candidates in all — with a signature required to confirm delivery. Six Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate returned the survey. Survey completion was one criterion for endorsement.
Warren County Conservatives also organized Candidate’s Corner, an online question and answer session between citizens and Republican candidates. Participation in this event was a consideration for endorsement. You can read the transcript of this conversation here: Candidate Information – Conservatives of Warren County. Select the candidate’s name and then click “WCC Community Conversation.” If this link does not exist, the candidate did not participate.
Warren County Conservatives also organized a Candidate’s Forum, on April 26. All Republican candidates were invited to speak at this public event. Participation was a consideration for endorsement.
Finally, the Election Committee met and discussed all of this information, with special emphasis on those who completed the WCC Survey, and their responses. Other considerations included the candidate’s viability and willingness to participate in voter education events. Committee votes for endorsed candidates were unanimous. It was through this process that Rick Williams, candidate, Magistrate – District 3 and Eric Aldridge, candidate, Magistrate – District 5 were selected for endorsement.
Warren County Conservatives applauds every candidate that participated in any of our voter education events. They are: Jack Wright, candidate, Judge Executive, Dr. Joanna Jones, candidate, Judge Executive, Keith Evanoff, Judge Executive, Luis Llontop, candidate, Magistrate – District 1, Rick Williams, candidate, Magistrate – District 3, Joe Imel, candidate, Magistrate – District 4, Eric Aldridge, candidate, Magistrate – District 5, Eddie Edwards, candidate, Magistrate – District 5, Ron Cummings, incumbent candidate, Magistrate – District 6, Shawn Helbig, candidate, Magistrate – District 6 and Kelcey Rock, candidate, Magistrate – District 6. To read more about these candidates, click here.