Midweek column

My midweek column, which normally appears on Wednesday (when I write one), will be delayed until Thursday this week to give me a chance to digest the election results.

If you haven't done so already, please go vote for the candidate of your choice.

Comments

[JIm Anderson Stivers]

Such a rambling of KUDOS makes one suspicious of Mr. Stephenson is pandering to Steve Beshear. If so, he will have to get in line and with the D;s back in town, that line will be long.

[John Stephenson]

Think About It:

I was in line at almost six and Ms. June had already voted at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church. What a great freedom.
This is one of the methods we as citizens can express ourselves in the running of our government.

The Election is over: We have seen the good, the bad and the ugly!
I was over singing at the homeless shelter this past Saturday and I always introduce the band as the” Who so ever will group” and when I get to myself I say and I am John Stephenson the old Country Politician.
It was the reaction to the word politician which causes me great concern. Even at the homeless shelter the homeless had a sour opinion of politics. That is sad, as a government educator, we need more people to come into the field and work and run for the offices which in many ways control the system by which we are governed.
I would like to ask each of the candidates who ran for Governor to lay down the swords and words of attack and pick up the Bibles they both spoke of so much and read the part which says that before I try to get the speck out of my brothers eye I first should get the log out of my own. We need to ask each of you to call upon your supporters to join together with those who lost in this election not to be losers in government. It takes both sides working together to make the bureaucracy function properly. The phones need to be answered, the decisions need to be made and if we want the progress and education we all need we will have to have real leadership from each of you. May I suggest that the new Governor begin by putting some folks on his transition team from each party who will look for staff and appointees for government positions from each party? And may the new Governor encourage folks from each party to apply for those appointments to board and commissions. The tone of the whole administration will be set by the actions of the new administration and its leaders. Ethics, experience and the willingness to recognize that you are a public servant is extremely important. Do it right, instead of do it democrat or republican? Remember, when you win the “mess in Frankfort” will soon become yours unless you set the tone. The best advise I can give is to not hire “yes people”. Hire those who know you are the Governor, but who will tell you the truth about their various systems and will give you the recommendations for progressive change. The public will soon see who the real leaders are by your conduct as a winner and a candidate who could not win in this particular race. Each of you will help to set the tone for the future of the Commonwealth. I think we all will be very proud of Steve Beshear and
Daniel Mongiardo and their team. I think their campagin leaders in Northern Kentucky did a great job. I was particularly impress with work of Jamie Jamerson and his bride and the entire effort to get out the vote. June and I was glad to help and old friend Steve reach his goal of many years.

John Stephenson
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction
Commonwealth of Kentucky
2994 Moffett Road
Independence, Kentucky 41051
www.jstephenson.com 11-7-2007