The elder candidate, Scott Bates, hangs his hat on “experience that matters”; this is an attribute many would-be voters would concede given the fact Bates is considerably older than Beckley. Scott could easily be Jakob’s dad, but the kicker is, Bates doesn’t actually have any experience.

If elected I think either candidate would have to hit the ground running, take counsel from the mayors and department heads, and make pragmatic decisions for the good of the county.

Age and experience do not always go hand in hand. Come November, Henry County voters won’t be voting based on experience, they’ll be voting based on character. Which candidate will really live up to making Henry County better? Which candidate will reach the people more effectively and win their trust?

Christian Duque

Jakob definitely has his work out for him. Not only does he need to mobilize young voters – many of the people he went to school with and has known his old life – but he also needs to be taken seriously by seniors.

Retirees are probably the most committed voter bloc second only to young professionals. Young folks in the 18-24 bracket are amongst the most apathetic to the political process. The Beckley campaign needs to double down on them. They need to make Jakob the face of the future.

And while it’s great the candidates will have their big debate in September at Henry County High School, I’d urge Jakob’s team to plan speaking engagements at the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools throughout the county before and after the debate. At just 24 years of age he can introduce young minds to the electoral process and he can talk to them about the election. Even though 90% of the people he’ll speak to can’t vote for him, the more youth that’s behind Beckley – the better! They may not be able to vote, but their voices will undoubtedly contribute to the political culture in the county from here till election day. If kids are wowed by a young candidate fighting the odds just for a chance to lead, you’d be pretty naive if you didn’t think that would have an impact on parents, grandparents, and whoever came into contact with that inspired youth.

When it comes to young professionals and middle-age voters, Jakob will need to show them he went to college, works a regular job, and still finds time to run an aggressive, polite campaign. They’ll want to know Jakob isn’t a professional student, a wishy-washy dreamer, or an aspiring career politician. Americans don’t like bureaucrats. They’ll want to know what Jakob’s plans are. In fact, many of these voters might be skeptical of Bates, who’s already held public office and some might argue is taking the next step up. Jakob could’ve started small, won some easy races, and then set his sights on New Castle, but maybe Judge Executive is the only office he ever wanted. The fact this political newcomer picked the most powerful post in the county to be his first (and possibly only) political candidacy has a certain genuine quality.

He’s a young, hardworking man who has a vision for a better Henry County and he just followed his heart. After seeing Bates steamroll over his Republican challengers in the primaries, Jakob could have folded, but instead he charged out of the gates. He really wants this and that passion may earn him significant support from voters who may not know him but who may be skeptical of electing a sitting magistrate to judge executive.

The Beckley campaign needs to fight hard to garner the support of retirees! This is where I think efforts need to be focused as well.

Seniors supporting Beckley will have to work very hard to convince their peers that a candidate a third their age will listen to them, govern with them in mind, and will have as serious of a chance of being successful as does Scott Bates.

Again – age and experience don’t go hand-in-hand – but many older people are more likely to vote for someone who’s older. In a very real way Jakob can only do so much to earn this very significant bloc’s support. If there isn’t already a Seniors for Beckley campaign team within a campaign team – I’d strongly recommend something like that be put together. It’s as easy creating another Facebook group, picking an administrator, and getting to work.

The good news is Jakob has a real shot of winning! The bad news is he’s going to have to win-over every voting bloc from Bates just because of his youth. This is all the more reason young voters need to be courted correctly. One debate at the high school where the stage is shared with Bates isn’t enough.

Finally, Jakob needs to focus on farmers. Farmers don’t usually vote blue. In fact, all of the farming-intensive states in the Union are deep red. A cabbage patch kid could run for office and if that doll has an R next to its name, it’s going to win. That’s not to insult the electorate’s education, rather to speak to their ironclad loyalty to the Republican Party. This is largely due to the fact that Republicans are far more generous with subsidies, tax credits, and more prone to investment in agriculture than their citified Democratic friends. Not all Democrats are urban snobs. In fact, many bluegrass Democrats are pro 2nd amendment, pro farmer, and pro a-lot-of-other-things.

Jakob cannot allow himself to be put into a box. He may be running as a democrat but he is not the Democrat Party. He’s a candidate born and raised in Henry County and one who knows what time it is. If elected, the people need to know where his heart is and what kind of an elected official he will be. Farmers need to know he’s as much their guy as Scott Bates is.

I suspect this will be a nail biter election. There are some givens though. There’s no question Jakob will take Pleasureville. Right now I’d say he’d win narrowly, though. That needs to be a decisive win by November. Bates will easily win Eminence, but that could change if young voters come into play and Beckley can shave off more senior support from Bates.

The political establishment in Eminence is probably skeptical of Jakob and might see Bates as a safer bet.

Eminence is not the county seat but it marches to the beat of its own drum. I can’t imagine its Mayor or Council will be none too excited to share the spotlight with a 24yr old charismatic and likeable leader shaking things up in New Castle. Bates, on the other hand, has already held public office and he also lives in Eminence; they know him and perhaps they might feel like they can keep him in line better. Jakob winning might also shift some of the power dynamic reserved for Eminence to Pleasureville. I’d say – more than likely – Bates wins it. The only way he doesn’t would be if the youth come out in droves.

Young people are not going to get excited about Bates. Age helps Jakob heavily here. Either Beckley wins them over or they’ll stay home.

If Beckley wins Pleasureville decisively enough and Bates wins Eminence, then the race will be decided throughout the county. Although Eminence is considerably larger than Pleasureville we’re not comparing populations, we’re comparing voting blocs. Therefore, even if Bates wins commandingly over Beckley in Eminence, Jakob could still easily make up lost ground there with wins in places like Defoe, Jericho, Sligo and Campbellsburg.

In fact, while talking to Jakob at Godbey’s On Main on Saturday, he told us about towns he’s been to that aren’t even on the map. And I don’t mean Kentucky maps – I mean Henry County ones! Sometimes he doesn’t know if he’ll be greeted by a warmhearted granny or a 12 gauge shotgun, but he’s out there knocking on doors, shaking hands, and giving his all to win an election that may very well shape the future of the county.

I am proud to know Jakob Beckley and while I live in far away Jefferson County and can’t vote for him, I hope my article reaches voters. I plan on donating to his campaign and should he need me, I’d be honored to campaign for him. I have met Scott Bates and like him very much, but I’m supporting Beckley for Henry County 100%!

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