(This article first appeared in the May print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Republican candidates Kevin Morgan and Jay Randolph both have similar concerns for the county’s Fourth District and throughout the county, including dealing with renewable energy and helping people day-to-day in their neighborhood.
Morgan said the wind energy conversion systems public hearings that are going on with the Henderson City-County Planning Commission, and believes the fiscal court will take the recommendation of the planning commission once that body hears all the public hearings and crafts a recommended draft ordinance.
But his thoughts on battery energy storage systems are a bit different. He said currently he still has concerns about BESS, including the possibility of thermal runaway events, and believes the current ordinance needs to provide more protection for residents.
During an April 16 Republican candidate forum, Morgan said that he believes a data center will locate in Henderson. He mentioned other communities that are grappling with the costs of increased electricity after data centers come to those towns, and he also mentioned some communities that have banned them.
He said utility costs are already increasing for the average Hendersonian, and so he needs to know what’s coming down the pike with data centers.
“I need to know what I’m going to have to live with,” he said.
If elected, Morgan said he wants the planning commission and fiscal court to get out ahead of the issue, “instead of when it shows up.”
Morgan also said he wants to push for an even greater presence in heavy industry education in the county. With a greater focus on heavy industry education in automation, mechanics and electricians, it can both provide a ready skilled workforce that would attract new industry while also giving high school students the ability to work right out of high school.
That’s already occurring with programs at Henderson County High School and Henderson Community College, but Morgan was not sure if those programs offer the higher levels that he would like to see. He said it’s a skillset that isn’t focused on enough.
“We need to turn it up,” he said.
Morgan lives in the East End now and lived there in his early life, too. One reason he is running is that he wants District 4 residents, who he likened to himself especially when he was younger, to realize that a good life can be attained.
“(Obstacles) are there to be pushed out of the way, so you can have the life you dream of if you put in the work,” he said. “Hard work makes things change.”
Morgan and Randolph both say that they want to see more young people participate in government and community activities.
Randolph said that the District 4 magistrate’s job is complicated by its location—99% of it is within city limits. So, effectively, he said the city is in control of much of what a magistrate can do to help in District 4.
He said, however, that he will, if elected, need to work with the city effectively and efficiently to ensure his constituents get help from their magistrate.
He said the way things are going in district four currently is “very discouraging” because residents are not being heard by the city or the county.
He cited issues that have happened in the East End that were handled by the city and not to Randolph’s approval.
“A magistrate should have some sort of involvement in district four,” he said.
He said getting things done for those in his district would require first talking and listening with officials. But if the city won’t listen, it may require the county to hold back financial assistance with city-led projects, though Randolph said, “I know that sounds bad.”
He said that county funds could be used to improve the fourth district but that would require local government cooperation.
“It’s very imperative that the city and the county work together,” Randolph said.
Beyond District 4 and throughout the county, Randolph sees renewable energy as the biggest issue.
“The green issue is a serious issue,” he said.
He wondered about the proposed 697-foot wind turbines and what the worst-case scenarios, including a possibility of being knocked down from powerful storms or tornados, and said it’s “a consideration we have to look at.”
Further, he said the energy from the solar farms near Robards goes to the market and doesn’t benefit directly county residents.
“We can’t let outside companies come in and destroy our land when it’s not benefitting our community,” Randolph said.
Another issue, similar to other candidates, revolves around transparency.
“I don’t think we’re transparent enough on numerous things,” Randolph said. He added that fiscal court meetings should be moved to the evenings after work.
A final thought from Randolph involved a personal mantra.
“You take care of your people,” he said. “I don’t see that happening, and I haven’t been for a long time.”
