The Madison County Republican Party introduces the 2011 slate of Republican candidates for the 2011 primary election.
Governor/Lt. Governor
David Williams and Richie Farmer
David Williams/Richie Farmer
David Williams has been a reformer and a tireless fighter for conservative values in Frankfort. In 2011, he will bring his passion for public service to the Governor's office.
As Senate President, David has held the line against higher taxes and more debt. In 2010, David helped block more than $1 billion in new debt in the state budget and he prevented Gov. Beshear from adding $300 million in new taxes on small businesses. Under David's leadership Senate Republicans have stopped $1 billion in higher taxes since 2000, and they cut income, property, and business taxes along the way.
David believes Kentucky needs a tax system built around one goal - creating jobs -- and he is the only candidate for governor with a real plan for tax reform. David's tax reform plan is part of the Senate Republican "Agenda for Prosperity," a collection of conservative solutions to some of Kentucky's pressing problems. David's agenda also includes key education reforms, a plan to fix Kentucky's broken public pension system, and transparency legislation that gives citizens more input into how their tax dollars are spent in Frankfort. The agenda also contains an "informed consent" pro-life bill that continues David's lifelong record of standing up for the unborn.
During the 2011 session David is spearheading legislation calling for a federal Constitutional Convention for the purpose of passing a Balanced Budget Amendment. David welcomes U.S. Sen. Rand Paul to the state Senate on Feb. 22 and together they will make the case for this much needed amendment, part of a national grassroots effort to amend the Constitution.
Todd P’Pool was born in Madisonville, Kentucky on June 22, 1973. Todd grew up around the same western Kentucky coal fields that provided for his family for four generations. In 1995 Todd earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Kentucky College of Business and Economics and graduated from U.K. College of Law. Todd also earned an Associate Degree in General Science with distinction from Madisonville Community College where he served as an adjunct faculty member for five (5) years.
In 2006, Todd was first elected to the office of Hopkins County Attorney and again in 2010. Todd was the first Republican elected to a countywide office since the Civil War era in a district of nearly 70% registered Democrats. He has demonstrated an ability to lead in a bi-partisan fashion and works across party lines to achieve results. Upon taking office the Hopkins county attorney was ranked 90th statewide in child support collection, under Todd’s leadership they now rank in the top 10 of all Kentucky counties. Because of this his office was twice awarded with the Statewide Outstanding Performance Award in 2009 & 2010.
Todd has been appointed numerous times as a special prosecutor for special cases across the commonwealth including the prosecution and conviction of elected officials. Kentucky’s current Attorney General even as a democrat appointed Todd because he has served with distinction as an independent voice for justice in Kentucky.
Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) appointed Todd to serve on the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice where he advises the President of the United States and members of Congress on juvenile justice issues affecting America. In 2008, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) re-appointed Todd to continue the important work of this committee.
Todd is an organizing founder and President of Western Kentucky Teen Challenge, Inc. and was elected to the national board of Teen Challenge International, Inc. in 2008. Teen Challenge is a faith based residential drug rehabilitation center. This two million dollar facility built in 2008 offers room to 60 men struggling with addiction and is debt free only two years later. Todd recognized as a prosecutor that incarceration alone of drug addicts was not doing enough in stemming the tide of the drug epidemic because it yields only a marginal success rate in rehabilitation. Todd is motivated to preserve the culture of Kentucky and today Western Kentucky Teen Challenge offers an 86% success rate and hope to men from all over Kentucky.
Todd is a life member of the National Rifle Association. And he and his wife Shannon of 18 years have 3 beautiful daughters that reside in Madisonville, KY.
It has always been John's belief that small business and its people are the backbone of the economic engine that sustains our country. The systemic growth of State government leading to the destruction of the job creating private business sector coupled with a blatant disregard for the efficient use of Kentucky tax dollars has led John to a new calling of service to our great Commonwealth of Kentucky and a run for Kentucky State Auditor.
John T. Kemper, III is the son of Dr. John T. Kemper Jr. & Nancy Brown Kemper. He was born October 31, 1963 in Illinois.
In 1964 upon accepting a position with the newly founded University of Kentucky Dental School Dr. Kemper moved the family to Lexington, Kentucky.
Growing up in Lexington, John was educated in the public school system attending Clays Mill Elementary, Jessie M. Clark Junior High School and graduated in 1982 from Tates Creek High School.
John played football for Coach Jerry Claiborne during his inaugural 1982 season at the University of Kentucky and in 1988 earned Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology from U of K.
An entrepreneurial spirit was born early in John's life as he started and ran a lawn care service beginning in junior high school. This experience led to a desire for self-reliance and self-employment.
In 1986, while attending U of K John started a successful family owned and operated educational supply business which was sold in 2002. In 1999. while continuing to play a major role in the operation of the family business John became a partner in his current business, a residential building and development company.
John met his wife Sue, an Eastern Kentucky native, through a mutual friend and employee of John's business. Sue also graduated from U of K and has been a teacher in the Fayette County Public schools. John and Sue have two young children and Sue has been a great source of strength in all of John's endeavors.
As members of their local Baptist Church for the last 15 years, Sue serves as the Director of the Preschool Department. John has been privileged to serve as Chairman of the Deacons and Leadership Council as well as on numerous committees. John also leads a young adult Sunday School class and enjoys volunteering in local missions in Lexington and Eastern Kentucky.
Bill Johnson was born in Wichita, Kansas, and moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1975 at the age of 10. After completing elementary through high school in Christian County, Bill attended the University of Kentucky (UK) and graduated in 1988 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He earned his Masters in Business Administration from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1995.
Most recently, Bill participated in the 2010 Republican primary for U.S. Senate that was eventually won by Rand Paul. However, during that campaign, Bill established statewide support for elected office and decided to make a run for KY Secretary of State in 2011. In addition to his campaign for elected office, Bill has earned his secondary teaching eligibility in math and business. He is serving as a volunteer and substitute teacher to help fill a critical need for high school math and physics teachers.
Outside of work, Bill has been a pilot since 1984, earning his private and instrument ratings while in high school. A third generation ‘aviation enthusiast’, he has worked with his father on aviation projects for as long as he can remember. Bill is an Airframe and Power plant aircraft mechanic with over 25 years of aviation experience. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Bill currently owns a 1963 Meyers 200B and flies about 100 hours per year.
Bill, Delinda, and their two children, Will (age 15) and Julia (age 10), have lived in Elkton, Kentucky, (Todd County) for 7 years. Delinda, a native of Casey County, is a teacher and loving wife. Bill and Delinda recently celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary.
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Commissioner of Agriculture
James "Jamie" Comer
James "Jamie" Comer has lived his entire life in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. He was born August 19, 1972 to Dr. J.R. Comer and Sandra Witcher Comer. Jamie never forgot his small town, rural values upbringing. He gladly chose to live, work, go to church, play an active role in the community, and raise his family in Monroe County.
Upon graduation from Monroe County High School in 1990, Jamie was elected Kentucky State FFA President. He attended Western Kentucky University where he majored in Agriculture and minored in Government (still to this day his two favorite subjects!) While at WKU, Jamie received the prestigous Chicago Mercantile Exchange Scholarship - given annually to the top four college agriculture students in the nation.
Upon graduation from WKU in 1993, Jamie returned home to work with his father and brother (Chad) on the family farming operation - Comer Land & Cattle Co. He also started James Comer, Jr. Farms, his own farming operation which consists of 950 acres of commercial beef cattle, managed timber, and mixed hay.
In addition to a successful farming operation, Jamie has experience in two other start-up businesses. He formed Comer & Polston Insurance, Inc. and CFB Foods, Inc. Jamie's experience in three different diversified businesses led to his political path in Frankfort, and his being widely considered as one of the most conservative, pro-business legislators in Kentucky.
James R. Comer was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2000 receiving an overwhelming majority of 81% of the votes for the counties of Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe and Monroe. Jamie's consistent, conservative voting record and dedicated focus on constituent services has allowed him to run unopposed for the next five terms!
As a citizen legislator, Jamie has received countless honors including the 2002 National Freshman Republican Legislator of the Year Award, 2003 Jaycees Outstanding Young Kentuckian, 2004 National Federation of Independent Business' Guardian of Small Business Award, 2009 Western Kentucky University Alumnus of the Year, and most recently in 2010 the Davey Crocket Legislator of the Year Award awarded by a delegation of various Kentucky Tea Party organizations located throughout Kentucky. He has been a leader of the Kentucky House Agriculture and Small Business Committee and the Tobacco Settlement Funds Agreement Oversight Committee. He also serves as the most conservative voting member of the prestigous Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
Jamie is married to Tamara Jo (TJ.) They have two children Reagan (6) and Harlan (3) and are expecting their third child in April. They are members of the First Baptist Church of Tompkinsville.
