Both candidates
say jobs most
important goal
in coming term

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Features Editor
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – The race for District One County Commissioner will be something to watch this campaign season, as incumbent Bob Gold faces challenger Rory Brewer in the May Democratic primary.

Both natives of Marshall County, the two said they have made it their mission to see to the good of the county and its first district.

Gold will be finishing his first term as Commissioner this year, and he said he feels the qualities that earned him the seat before will lend themselves well in the coming term, if elected.

Having based his initial campaign on education, dedication and work ethic, Gold said these values are no less important now than they were four years ago.

“When I started the first time, I felt my education and work experience would be a benefit to the first district,” Gold said. “I felt like this was something we needed in Fiscal Court, and I feel like I’ve done that, and I’ll continue to do that.”

Gold said he’s done just about everything in the work force, including working a family farm, serving as a plumber and tree cutter and running his own excavation business. Now, he spends his time at Westlake Chemicals. All of these, combined with his education — an associate’s degree in environmental engineering technology — are avenues he said brings him a better understanding of the community.

However, Gold said his experience as County Commissioner has been equally valuable, if not more so. Gold said he’s served as liason to the county’s GIS mapping office, helped in securing funds for the improvement of Aurora’s sewer system and has been successful in working with Fiscal Court to obtain state funding for county programs. It’s something he said is key in a time when the budget is always of concern in Frankfort.

“Alot of the economic development falls to the Fiscal Court,” Gold said. “We have to be able to work hard and work together to get things done.”

Things such as attracting new industry and securing jobs in Marshall County, Gold said.

“It’s my highest and most difficult priority,” he said. Hardin and Aurora have a wealth of potential, Gold continued, particularly in tourism. “With the new road and bridges, that area will need services, and we need to work to promote that.

“We’ve got to get to a situation to give our kids someplace to work,” Gold said. “We’ve got the education, river, roads ... we’ve got what it takes.”

Gold said he’s discussed the city of Hardin’s needs with Mayor Randal Scott, as well, including its sewer infiltration problems and the expanded water line run below the city that Gold said brings further potential for growth.

Above all, Gold said he feels he has fulfilled his promise to work hard, and while he stays busy, he said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You’ll find the time to do the things you want to do,” Gold said. “And I want to serve the first district of Marshall County. I’ve never found anywhere I’d rather live, and I want to do what I can to improve the quality of life there.”

Brewer, like Gold, said his interest in the good of the community is paramount, and he feels he has unique qualifications to fill the position. Brewer said he worked with the Fiscal Court for 10 years, first as a summer worker then as coordinator for the summer student work program. He has a degree in political science from Murray State University, and he said most importantly, a love for his community.

Brewer said he, like Gold, is especially interested in job development. It’s something that he said he feels could use improvement.

Brewer said as of December 2009, the county’s unemployment rate had increased again, from 10.9 percent in previous months to 11.9 percent.

“The only county in the [Jackson] Purchase with a higher unemployment rate than us is Fulton County,” Brewer said. “The state level is at 10.4 percent — there are counties in eastern Kentucky doing better here than we are. One of my main goals is to bring jobs into this area.”

Brewer said if elected, he hopes to work closely with the Fiscal Court and county to do more with economic development, not only to attract new jobs, but maintain existing industry.

Brewer said he feels setting up a good repoire with local industry, a line of easily accessible communication would go a long way in keeping business in the county.

However, he said it’s about maintaining those lines of communication on a regional level, as well.

“The world is moving ahead, and we’ve got to move with it,” Brewer said. “We’ve got to operate as a Purchase, not just Marshall County. What’s good for our neighbors, is good for us.”

Brewer said if new industries open in neighboring counties, a percentage of the workforce will undoubtedly come from Marshall County. However, he said in-county development is crucial.

“We’ve got so much to market here,” Brewer said. “The people of this county are every bit as intelligent and every bit as capable as anyone, anywhere. We’ve got the lakes, rail, roads and we’re starting to get broader air travel close by — we’ve got everything we need to succeed.”

Brewer said if elected, he hopes to do more with Aurora’s water and sewer to prepare for increased traffic due to bridge and road construction. He said he also intends to aggressively seek grant funding for county infrastructure.

“We have to be prepared for whatever comes our way,” Brewer said. “We’ve got a great road department, and we’ve got to work with them to maintain and improve our roads.”

Brewer said he intends to do his best to start a snowball effect of job creation and success in Marshall County.

“It’s the hardest thing to get it going, but once it does, it’s a whole lot easier to keep it rolling,” Brewer said. “We’ve got to give our people every opportunity to put food on the table every night, clothe their kids and send them to college and have jobs for them when they come back. I want to help do that. I want to give them a little piece of that American dream.”