Understanding Why Small Town Elections Are Insurmountable to Overcome

Most people don't realize what a strong hold local officials have on small communities, such as where I live in Western Kentucky. Rural communities all around this area are plagued by the lack of willing candidates that will run against local incumbent favorites. I think many people believe that local incumbents have such a strong grip on the local citizens that it would be virtually impossible to overthrow any of them.

In my local area of Murray Kentucky for example, Ray Coursey Jr. a Democrat has been our local county clerk since back in 1995 and has been re-elected each year since without opposition. Mr. Coursey has been a quadriplegic ever since age 13 and back in 2007 had a terrible automobile accident, which left him with even more medical problems that have really taken a toll on him ever since the accident. Mr. Coursey is a perfect example of someone that many people feel is untouchable when it comes to being overthrown as county clerk of Calloway County.

Another example would have to be jailer Phil Hazle who has been the Calloway County Jailer since 1998. Over the years Phil Hazle has pretty much gone unopposed for his office, which I again believe has everything to do with people believing that he is undefeatable.

Small communities like Murray, Kentucky often elect candidates into office and then feel as though in some way they have earned their positions much like someone with seniority. As well as an overwhelming amount of people feel that the public office, which they have held is whether good or bad, insurmountable to overcome.

Another elected office in this area that is a hot topic these days is between Rand Paul and Jack Conway for United States Senator. The television has been running commercials hot and heavy these days against Rand Paul stating that in someway he has made comments about not being soft on crime. Jack Conway on the other hand is a typical Democrat and supports Obamacare, as well as he supports many other liberal, big brother type government agendas.

I never thought of myself as a staunch conservative but when Obama was running for office, I saw in him a person that is the epitome of what big brother stands for, which has a good way of blowing smoke about change at people who were looking for something new. Before he had even took office I felt a lot of Americans were being duped into believing his tossed about rants of change without in my opinion any real plan at making those changes reality.

Because of Obama and what has been the Democratic agenda, I have had to re-evaluate my views on our government and politics in general. I've decided that I'm going to take a more active stance on politics and thereby not let our government lead me down a path where all my freedoms are destroyed.

References for this article include: apps.sos.ky.gov/electionballots/ballots/Calloway/001.pdf　
current.com/news-and-politics/89296104_what-small-town-america-thinks-about-obama-its-not-good.htm
www.murrayledger.com/
www.mccrp.org/