Fiscal Court Candidate – 4th District Magistrate

May 11, 2022

Joe Imel

A lot of people have heard of Joe Imel. He’s the Twitter guy. He’s a photographer. Joe Imel is also a candidate for 4th District Magistrate.

What distinguishes Imel from his competitor is that he will answer questions. While we have no candidate survey from Imel, he did address some survey topics in an online WCC voter education event and participated in the WCC Fiscal Court Candidate Forum.

This is where Imel stands:

Ethics – A supporter of an annual review of the Ethics Code, he says “The code of ethics needs to be updated. Routine and updated disclosures of possible or perceived violations by elected officials need to be filed. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest is too much.”

It was in this spirit that Imel, the business manager of News Publishing, which owns the Bowling Green Daily News, said he removed himself from the editorial board and has “no oversight with regard to the news content.”

Taxes – “As far as I am able within the scope of my role as the next 4th District Magistrate, I will fight to lower taxes and will vote no on a tax increase,” Imel said.

Communication with Constituents – Imel wants to keep constituents “informed and engaged.” He says the Fiscal Court should have a presence at town hall meetings, listening sessions and community events. “I plan to be on the ground, scouring my district, much as I have over my career as a photojournalist for the last 31 years in Warren County.”

Infrastructure Priorities for Fourth District – “Let’s learn from our pains in the south” of Warren County, Imel remarked, adding he would prioritize sewer along Louisville road, roads in the 4th district, and “all that is needed to handle the growth that a $2 billion battery plant brings with it.”

Read more about Imel here.

The 4th Magisterial District represents Smiths Grove, Plum Springs, Three Forks, Oakland, Gott, Warren East Middle School, Mount Victor, Cumberland Trace, Hillside, Northgate, Riverview, Bristow, Countryside and Fruit of the Loom.