By Burton Cole
FALMOUTH — When the presumptive Judge Executive-Elect Anthony Strong takes office the first of next January, he said the first thing he plans to do is to make sure the county has stocked enough salt for the roads.
Addressing the issues on which he campaigned will be the real first things, the retired schools superintendent and former Falmouth city councilman said: Making sure that livestream is up and running as part of his quest for great transparency of office; having agendas posted publicly at least four days prior to meetings; provide more opportunity for audience comments during meetings, including caucus meetings; and setting up community meetings.
Then, there’s the hot-button issue of fire departments, EMS services and county dispatch.
Strong said that he wants to explore options, see what each would cost for top-of-the-line equipment and service, and compare that to what the cities and county already are paying and getting.
It may involve a plan to merge all the fire departments into one district;
it may involve leaving the departments as is and enhancing what they have.
“I want to see if there’s anything we can do with existing services and see if we can make them better,” he said. “I think we’ve got to get on it quickly and get all the fire departments working together.”
Strong won the Republican nomination for judge executive in last Tuesday’s primary election. Since no Democrat filed to run, barring a big showing by a write-in candidate or an independent in the November general election, Strong will take office in January.
Results are considered unofficial until certified by the State Board of Elections no later than the third Monday after elections.
Strong collected 1,083 votes — 40.6% of the votes cast in complete but unofficial results to win the nomination of the Republican Party.
District 4 Magistrate Rick Mineer finished second with 697 votes, or 26.1% of total votes cast for judge executive; former Falmouth mayor Sebastian Ernst, third, 604 votes, 22.6%; and law enforcement officer James Poynter, 286 votes, 10.7%.
Since no Democrat filed to run, barring a big showing by a write-in candidate or an independent in the November general election, Strong will take office in January 2027.
Results are considered unofficial until certified by the State Board of Elections no later than the third Monday after elections.
CANDIDATE COMMENTS
After the election, Mineer posted, “I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone who supported me in the election. Although we fell short of our goal, I would like to congratulate Anthony Strong on his victory.
“Now, it’s essential for our community to unite and move forward together.”
Ernst announced that will challenge Mayor Sabrina Hazen this fall to regain his seat on the city.
“I want to take a moment to congratulate everyone on their wins last night,” Ernst posted that day after the election. “I wish you all nothing but success in your service to the people. When Pendleton County thrives, we all thrive.
“They say home is where the heart is. And my heart lives right here in Falmouth, Kentucky,” he wrote.
“… As I look at these old photos of Falmouth that I had colorized, I’m reminded of how beautiful our city once was, and how beautiful it can be once again. I want nothing more than to show all of you what our hometown is capable of, not with old pictures of our glory days, but by the works of our own hands, and with results you can see with your own eyes.
“I know, with all of my being, how to make that happen on your behalf. That is why I am announcing my candidacy for the position you all entrusted me with once before. The one I was meant to hold all along.”
Poynter, who stated from the outset that he knew he was the least-known of the four judge executive candidates, posted minutes after results were announced last Tuesday, said, “Congratulations to Anthony Strong, Pendleton County’s judge executive-elect.
“Thank you to all that supported me. I plan to stay involved and hold those elected to their promises.”
One of his supporters commented, “People know your name now. Stay involved.”
STRONG’S PLAN
Strong credited listening to what people want and knocking on doors for his win.
“In August when I decided to file to run, I sat down with a group of individuals and discussed the issues and what we need to do,” Strong said. From there, he developed a plan.
“I knocked on over 2,300 doors,” he said. Plus, there were ads in the Outlook, mailings that showed up in every mailbox, signs in yards and his presence as he attended every Fiscal Court meeting and meetings of city councils and public boards.
Strong said this summer and on through the remainder of the year, he plans to sit down with Fields to discuss what needs to be done for a smooth transition and continue attending Fiscal Court meetings so that he’s up to date on what the court is doing.
He also said that he hopes to spend time looking at other counties of similar size and makeup to compare what they are doing and how it’s working to what Pendleton County is doing to find ways to do things better.
Lots of individuals, boards and others are reaching out to him as well to discuss what will be upcoming.
“Both the state representative and state senator already called me,” he said. “I told them both they know me well, so I’ll be around knocking on their doors” to make sure the state Legislature doesn’t forget about Pendleton County.
“All that transition will have to happen so we don’t miss anything,” he said.