Great auto rates for any budget. Meet the candidates running for treasurer

BY BRADEN WHITE | LINK nky REPORTER

As the primaries are gearing up, here is what you need to know about the three Republican candidates running for Kentucky treasurer.

State treasurers can serve for up to two terms of four years. The Republican candidate with the most votes will face the Democratic nominee later this year. The primary election will take place May 16.

Voters will choose from Republicans OJ Oleka, Mark Metcalf and Andrew Cooperrider, who come from different backgrounds that influence their campaigns and policies.

LINK nky: Why are you running for this office, and if elected, what will be the most important thing on your agenda that you’d like to get done?

Oleka: “I’m running because the Treasurer’s Office needs a proven conservative to continue the good work of Allison Ball, who has endorsed me in this race. As Kentucky state treasurer, I’ll defend pro-life, pro-family values, stand up for liberty, prioritize legal and efficient spending, improve budget transparency and promote financial empowerment. To accomplish anything in this office, you need an experienced conservative who knows the office’s constitutional duties and how it works, and I’m the only person in this race who fits that description. The most useless tool is one put in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to use it; of the three choices, I’m the only person who understands what a powerful tool the Treasurer’s Office can be to promote fiscally conservative values and financial transparency.”

Metcalf: “Protect tax dollars from the greedy hands of career politicians, divest state resources from woke businesses, crack down on illegals siphoning tax dollars away from lawful Kentuckians and return money to the hard-working taxpayers of Kentucky,” according to Metcalf’s campaign website.

Cooperrider: “I am a husband, father and businessman – not a career politician. I am running for Kentucky state treasurer because I am sick and tired of corruption running rampant in our government. We need a constitutional watchdog to hold politicians like (Gov. Andy) Beshear accountable,” according to Cooperrider’s campaign website.

LINK nky: What approach would you take to manage state funds and spending?

Oleka: “Integrity and honesty will be at the center of everything I do as state treasurer to protect Kentucky values and serve families. On my first day, I will fight back against the radical woke ideology that is trying to invest your money to fit a political agenda, not to receive the best return. I will monitor for banks and financial institutions that don’t align with Kentuckians’ values and ensure ESG (a regulatory framework for environmental, social and governance) doesn’t threaten your family’s future. As the only candidate in this race with real experience in the Treasurer’s Office, I’m ready to get to work and deliver for your family. I will also eliminate every possible physical check that is printed and mailed from Frankfort, modernizing and improving efficiency within our disbursement processes and saving taxpayers nearly $3 million that can instead go toward funding law enforcement, education and our state government rainy day savings fund.”

Metcalf: “Mark will pay only those bills that are authorized by the General Assembly and are consistent with constitutional and statutory authority,” according to his campaign website. “Mark will work to quickly identify and return all unclaimed properties to their rightful owner, the Kentucky taxpayers.”

Cooperrider: “The Commonwealth of Kentucky is facing enormous issues due to government overreach and out-of-control spending. Career politicians are using (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, COVID and social issues to hide their incompetence, and I am here to hold them accountable,” according to Cooperrider’s campaign website.

LINK nky: What experience do you have that makes you qualified for the position?

Oleka: I am a proven conservative leader who will bring a new generation of Republican leadership and will deliver for Kentucky. I served as deputy treasurer under current Treasurer Allison Ball, who has endorsed my campaign along with Kentucky Right to Life. I’m the only candidate with experience as a watchdog for Kentuckians’ tax dollars, and I have a proven record of efficient spending. I proudly returned millions of dollars to Kentucky families, and I know how to do it again. In the private sector, while running a statewide association for private colleges and universities, we decreased our budget and increased revenues without raising dues by a single penny. I’ve honed my experience in the private and public sectors and will be ready to do the job on Day One.

Metcalf: “Mark H. Metcalf has practiced law for 37 years as a private practitioner, state and federal prosecutor, and as a judge on the US Immigration Court in Miami, Florida. He was selected Kentucky’s Outstanding County Attorney in 2013 and has twice represented Kentucky before the US Supreme Court as Special Assistant Attorney General. Mark is a combat veteran who served as Command Judge-Advocate for the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Combat Support) in Richmond, Kentucky and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. In civilian life, Mr. Metcalf serves as Garrard County Attorney in Lancaster, Kentucky,” according to Metcalf’s campaign website.

Cooperrider: “Andrew Cooperrider is a business owner who employs dozens of Kentuckians across his companies. Having built successful businesses from scratch, Andrew understands budgeting, cash flow, and ensuring proper investments for long term financial viability. More importantly, Andrew has actually had to sacrifice and pull himself up by his bootstraps to achieve the American Dream. For this reason Andrew takes the spending of your tax dollars very seriously. You worked hard for what you have and we need someone like An- drew who understands that,” according to Cooperrider’s campaign website.

LINK nky: What things would you like to change, if elected, to better serve the citizens of Kentucky?

Oleka: In addition to fighting back against the out-of-touch elites who want to impose their ESG agenda on Kentucky, I’ll work to save Kentuckians’ money with efficient reforms. For example, replacing paper checks with a more efficient disbursement process would save Kentucky taxpayers nearly $3 million a year. I will also work with county governments to develop a statewide initiative that helps county governments increase cash flows by making sound investments by pooling together assets. Due to my relationship with other state treasurers who have implemented similar initiatives, I know this type of initiative can find hundreds of thousands of dollars so local governments can cut taxes, provide better services and launch economic development projects to unleash Kentucky’s economy from the ground up. Because of my time in a leadership role in the Treasurer’s Office, I am the only candidate in this race with a firsthand understanding of what works and what can be improved.

Metcalf: “Mark will work to quickly identify and return all unclaimed properties to their rightful owner, the Kentucky taxpayers,” according to Metcalf’s campaign website.

Cooperrider: “In the midst of government mandates, fiscal policy failures resulting in inflation, and skyrocketing gas prices, our families have been struggling. Government created these issues and they have failed to solve them. Power should not belong in the hands of the few. Returning power to the household is the only way out

2023 Gateway to Greatness Awards Luncheon

Honoring St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Ms. Jeanne Schroer of this,” according to Cooperrider’s campaign website.

LINK nky: Why do you think voters should choose you?

Oleka: Kentuckians deserve an experienced constitutional conservative with integrity and a clue about how to achieve anything in the Treasurer’s Office. I will protect our tax dollars, uphold conserva tive values and fight to preserve the idea that liberty creates prosperity. As part of a new generation of Republican leadership, I will work to preserve the American Dream for everyone in Kentucky, because my fam ily has lived it. There are three choices on the ballot, but only one of us would have any idea what to do if they were fortunate enough to win election. Vote for someone with the right values and the right experi ence.

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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

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