Henderson County judge-executive hopefuls Schneider, Ridley make closing arguments

HENDERSON, Ky. − Candidates for Henderson County judge-executive sat side by side on a stage Tuesday night and made what amounted to closing arguments prior to the Nov. 8 election.

Moderators at the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event insisted on decorum – this was a forum and not a debate, they explained. Incumbent Brad Schneider and challenger Dorsey Ridley adhered to that, but both got their main points across, sometimes forcefully, during a half-hour of discussion.

Ridley, a former Democratic state representative and senator as well as a business owner and bank executive, said he’s a well-connected, experienced leader who can take Henderson County in a new, positive direction.

Ridley mentioned his recent work in Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration and his ties state transportation secretary Jim Gray. Ridley spoke of the county’s population loss, its need for lower local taxes and “a completely different style of leadership” in county government.

Schneider, a Republican, disagreed. He said there’s nothing wrong with the path Henderson County has taken during his six years in office.

More:Here's who's on the ballot in Henderson County for 2022

Schneider, who worked for the Chamber and the county’s economic development agency before becoming judge-executive, pointed to announcements of hundreds of new jobs as well as advancement in public safety and broadband access.

Henderson County is seeing “a revolution, a renaissance,” Schneider told the forum audience at Henderson Community College. “ … Right now is not the time to take a step back in history to old names, old ideas, old political paradigms and old feuds.”

The candidates aired different views on issues such as a county government financial surplus. Schneider defended the decision by county leaders to let surplus accounts rise to high levels, while Ridley called for at least some of that healthy surplus to provide residents with needed tax relief.

Schneider said county surplus funds have been used to incentivize job growth, and a healthy balance should be maintained for circumstances such as natural disasters or unfunded mandates from state or federal governments.

Henderson County's financial strength has enabled it to "punch above its weight class" in recruiting hundreds of new jobs, Schneider said.

Ridley mentioned his banking and state government experience and said, “you can’t live in fear, and when you live in fear it makes you do things like over-tax our constituents here in the county. And unfortunately, our county government's surplus has grown astronomically while everyday folks have suffered during this pandemic due of the loss of jobs and inflation.”

Ridley took aim at Schneider's statement that a local government surplus would be needed for disasters, saying state and federal agencies assist in those situations.

“We can’t worry about the next storm,” Ridley added. “ … We can’t have a skyrocketing surplus that causes you and your family additional tax revenue.”

The candidates were asked about preparations for the new Interstate 69 Ohio River bridge and how that could change Henderson County in future years. The bridge project's Record of decision calls for the new bridge to carry large commercial trucks and have tolls, and for one of the two U.S. 41 twin bridges to remain open and the other to close.

More:Henderson County judge executive election: Candidates joust over Twin Bridges, economy

Schneider and Ridley have both said they would try to reverse the decision to close one of the U.S. 41 bridges.

Work has started on the I-69 extension through Henderson County leading to and from the new bridge location, and Schneider said there's likely to be both business and housing growth at intersections along the path.

"We'll need to do traffic studies to make sure we balance our growth against quality of life issues," Schenider said. "It's exciting, but we have to be be flexible and open to change."

Ridley pointed to his years of I-69 advocacy in Frankfort and said "it's exciting to see all of this come to fruition ... I will look to ensure that Henderson County is prepared as we go through the process of putting new businesses in place and making sure we have positive growth here."

Before shaking hands and leaving the stage, Ridley told the audience that Henderson County "wants a leader who will treat people with dignity and respect," while Schneider said he considers himself part of a newer generation of leaders that's helped make the county "as prosperous as we've known in our lifetimes."

Other Henderson County candidates make pitches

Henderson County Sheriff David Crafton, a Democrat appointed to the role following the 2021 retirement of Ed Brady, is running for a full-term. The Republican candidate for sheriff is Chip Stauffer, a former Henderson Police Department chief.

"We have good people, good equipment, better pay and trust of the community," Crafton said. "I want to continue to lead that team."

Stauffer cited his own extensive law enforcement background and said it's important for sheriff's deputies "to be involved in the community, not just in the time of need."

Democrat Bruce Todd and Republican Kurt Wiesen, running for the elected role of county jailer, spoke at Tuesday's forum. The winner will replace Amy Brady, who did not seek for another term.

Henderson County School Board District 2 incumbent J. Kirk Haynes appeared at the event alongside three challengers for his seat: Nancy Gibson, Joe McGarrh and Desire Smith.

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson County judge-executive candidates make last pitches