Waggoner, Bivens participate in Republican Candidate debate (2024)

Mary Beth Sallee

Managing Editor

Hart Co. News Herald

Last week, the LaRue County Republican Party hosted a Candidate Debate for the 24^th District State Representative Republican nominees Asa Waggoner of Hart County and Ryan Bivens of LaRue County. The debate occurred at Vibe Coffee in Hodgenville and was moderated by Pastor Joe Webster of Hardin County.

A variety of questions were presented to the candidates. They were first asked to explain why they are seeking the office of State Representative and the qualifications that set them apart from their opponent.

I think it’s very important for people my age to get involved because there’s not a lot of young people doing what I’m doing right now,” Waggoner began. “…I have a spirit that we need to do something for our country…Our country is going in the wrong direction. Inflation, high gas prices, no leadership at the top…So when the leadership at the top is gone, it is imperative of the ones at the bottom – the grass roots, the American people – to get up and do something.”

“Frankfort’s a crazy place for anyone that’s been,” Waggoner continued. “There’s a lot of stuff going on, and you gotta make sure you know what you’re doing when you get up there. You gotta know how to read bills, how to have relationships with legislatures which I do have…What we need in Frankfort is someone who can be courteous to the constituents, and there needs to be someone who can be direct to you as a voter – somebody that’s not going to hide anything, is transparent, and will always be in the district, city or town…We need transparency in our government, and we need somebody willing to stand up, and I’m willing to do that if you select me to be your next state rep.”

Bivens also addressed the crowd.

“I’m a first generation farmer,” Bivens said. “I wasn’t born and raised in this district. I grew up in Taylorsville, Kentucky, but I chose to be here. My wife and I, we both chose to live here. We chose to raise a family here, and we chose to build a business here because we love this part of the world. As a business owner, I’ve been able to work and create jobs…I’m one of you. I understand what you go through every day. I understand the struggles.”

“I’ve become friends with legislatures,” Bivens continued. “…But there’s a whole lot of legislatures in those places that can’t do the job that you and I do each and every day, and that’s a problem. They’ve lost touch with reality. I think that’s why we gotta send somebody to Frankfort to represent this district, the district that I love so much. We’ve gotta send somebody up there that can relate to each and everybody in this room and can do the best job representing us and standing up for our beliefs.”

Candidates were also asked to name three bills they would draft in the next legislative session on behalf of their constituents.

“First bill, term limits,” Waggoner said. “We have people that go up there and stay for the longest time. Mitch McConnell, 40 years. Joe Biden, the President, he’s been in government for for 50 years. We can’t have people go into government and stay there. You got to move things out, move people out. Bring in new talent, people who have new ideas. We can’t keep sending people who are lining their pockets and getting entrenched in the government. We need new blood. Bill number two, I would like to pass a bill…making sure that our farmland is not taking by foreign entities, by foreign government. Try to go over to China and try to buy some farmland or buy some property. They’re not going to let you have it. Why are we doing that here? Why do Americans, Kentuckians, why do we let foreign governments come and take our farmland? That is our farmland for farming, for growing tobacco, corn…We don’t need them coming over here and taking our farmland and using it for purposes that we don’t know what they’re using it for…As a citizen, that should be concerning to you when you have these foreign governments or these large corporations using farmland for purposes not used for agriculture…A third thing, we need to bring civics back into our schools. We have a generation of kids who don’t know anything about government…They focus on national level, but they don’t focus on anything else…People need to know those things because if they don’t, we’re going to be in the shape like we are right now.”

“I appreciate Asa saying something about farmland because that is near and dear to my heart as a farmer, but I’m going to take it a step further,” Bivens stated. “I think we gotta be smart about growth in the future. It was recognized last year by American Farmland Trust that we’re losing over 1,800 acres an hour of farmland in this country. We cannot keep going down that path…I can see what foreign ownership has brought to us right over the hill in Glendale. I think we’ve gotta look at taking care of people that are back home…We’ve gotta protect from foreign investors being able to buy farmland, but at the same time, we’ve gotta protect the people that are already here instead of inviting in new business…I’ll use the Ford SK plant as example. We’ve poured out and opened our state check book to them. If we had spent that kind of money with local businesses…just think of how thriving these rural communities could be…Now you want to talk about a joke. Anybody’s not been to a regional driving center – why in the world they ever took it out of the county is beyond me…Finally, first responders. I have a real concern when it comes to rural communities moving forward. We’ve got to do something to help protect them. Let’s talk about volunteer fire departments. Let’s think about our small town police force. Because of inflation, we’ve seen stuff skyrocket. We don’t have people volunteer like they did…We gotta make sure we do things to protect them and they’re not up against a frivolous lawsuit because of something they did.”

Candidates were also asked: If you are voting on a piece of legislation on the House floor, what factors will you utilize to determine how to vote on that particular piece of legislature?

Bivens stated that personal interests would need to be put aside and the constituents need to be taken into consideration.

“I’ll never stand up here and claim to be an expert in everything,” Bivens said. “The thing you gotta have, you gotta have connections.”

To the same question, Waggoner replied, “First of all, is it (the legislation) constitutional? If it’s not constitutional, there’s no need to even be looking at it…Number two, what do the people think about it?…Number three, who is paying the legislature to put this bill forward? There’s all kinds of lobbying groups and donors up there…Because if it’s being put forward by a lobbyist or a donor, that’s a red flag right there for me. If it’s not being put forward on behalf of the interest of the people of this district in Kentucky, I’m not gonna vote for it.”

Both candidates were asked who they have made political contributions and donations to in the past two years and what their determining factors in were in supporting those candidates or groups.

Waggoner stated that with his job, he may not always be able to make financial contributions but will support candidates in other ways such as yard signage. He stated that he has previously supported Wesley Morgan and Courtney Gilbert.

“Do I feel like they care about people? Do I feel like they’re constitutional? Do I feel like they won’t go up there (to Frankfort) and sell us out? That’s kind of what I look at, somebody who will represent our needs,” Waggoner said. “I may not have been able to donate (financially), but I will spend time, and sometimes the time is worth more than the money.”

After pausing, Bivens stated, “I’ll be the first to admit that it takes money to win campaigns sometimes…”

He then stated that he has made financial contributions to former Kentucky Governor candidate Ryan Quarles during the primary and then to former Governor candidate Daniel Cameron when he won the primary. Bivens has also made donations to Jonathan Shell and also a few Democrats in the past.

In speaking about Shell, Bivens said that he and his wife knew the Shell family, then stated, “I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve maxed him out because, you know what? We need good people serving in these races…Is there other people I’ve donated to? Sure. I’ve donated in local elections before…I’m sure that there’s probably Democrats in the past I’ve donated to…You can go online and search online for who I donated to. At the end of the day, does that make a difference as to what kind of state rep a person is going to make in a position? No, it doesn’t…I really don’t see how that’s germane to the subject of how good of a state rep I’m gonna make as far as who I’ve donated to in the past, but whatever. If that’s how I want to be judged, feel free to judge me. But most of the time, they are Republicans.”

At the end of the debate, the moderator stated that voters are often exhausted with candidates who will disappear once they are elected. Candidates were then asked, “As a campaign promise, are you willing to tell us tonight that you will commit to represent the interests of the people of District 24 and to give an account of that representation by presenting yourself before at least five district GOP meetings a year, including at least one in each county that you serve?”

“I’m not gonna stand up here and make a promise like that,” Bivens said. “Yeah, if I’ve got the opportunity that I can come out to a meeting, well certainly I’ll be willing to go out to a meeting and join them.”

Bivens went on to state that while campaigning across the district, he’s learned that people want a representative who works and understands them. He explained that he is not only a potential politician, but also a full-time farmer and business owner with obligations.

“But at the same time, they want you at every Tom, Dick, and Harry meeting that’s going on…But at the end of the day, we’ve gotta be realistic,” Bivens said. “Asa’s gotta be realistic. He’s got a job to do. There’s times I’m sure he’s had to take off of work to be able to go out and do something. If I can make a meeting, absolutely, I’m going to. But let’s be honest. I’m in a little different line of work (as a farmer)…”

When asked the same question, Waggoner gave a quick reply: “Yes.”

At the end of the debate, both Waggoner and Bivens gave their closing comments.

“I would be more than humble to have your support,” Waggoner said. “We just need to return government back to the people because right now, it’s not there. Our country’s going downhill…There’s a lot of challenges right now. We need somebody who can go up there (to Frankfort) who has the time and the willingness to do it. I’m 23, not married, don’t have any kids. I have plenty of time to go up there and be in Frankfort…Things are getting out of control. The world’s in turmoil. Washington’s in turmoil, and sometimes Frankfort’s in turmoil. We just need somebody that has the time and the ability and the willingness to serve, and I’m right here for you.”

“At the end of the day, I’ve said it publicly and I said it tonight and I’ll say it again. I’m not going to go say anything negative against this young man,” Bivens said. “…As District 24 people, you have a choice to make. You’re hiring a person for the position. You have to pick who’s the best choice…I’m a business owner. I’ve employed people. I’ve dealt with government regulation. I pay taxes. I’ve lived a little bit more life…I’ve set on boards and commissions…I think the one thing that stands out, that I’m a father, every decision I make…I think about how it will impact my boys, how it will impact the rest of the community’s kids. Because at the end of the day, that’s why we do everything we absolutely do is for the next generation…I would appreciate your support.”

The full debate was recorded and can be viewed online on the Cam Lasley Facebook page, as well as the LaRue County Republican Party Facebook page.