When I first announced that I was running for State Representative people told me that politics is “a rich mans game.†They wondered why I would subject myself to the negativity that seems to dominate almost any campaign.
My life circumstances seem to run counter to entering the world of politics. I am far from wealthy; Jill and I live in a small home in working class neighborhood. We drive cars that have turned over 100,000 miles, but they’re paid for. I’ve experienced unemployment and I know what it is like to worry about whether the bills will get paid. In other words, I have none of the qualifications of typical politicians.
HOWEVER, what I do have is the life experience to represent the people who live in district 77. I truly believe what Lincoln said about “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.â€
After serving as a community advocate for the past 30 years I have the knowledge and skills to represent the real people of district 77.
I have worked to serve the people of SW Indiana in a variety of ways. I’ve been involved in many great events and helped raise money for a lot of worthwhile organizations. Most of all, I have enjoyed meeting and talking to the kind and compassionate people that also call Evansville their home.
It is my love for this city that led me to run for State Representative. I believe that the years of listening to the hopes, dreams and needs of the people here give me an advantage in this race. For me it is all about relationships and taking care of the needs of the people. It’s all about respecting others and finding ways to work together.
Anyone running for office in SW Indiana knows that the I-69 Bridge is important. We all agree that we have to fix the schools, retain good teachers and find a better way to do standardized testing. Roads need to be fixed and we need to keep attracting new jobs to the state. We can all recite these things in our sleep.
The real job for a legislator is to use some good old-fashioned common sense to make this a better place to live. Using common sense means asking if each bill that gets introduced is really needed. Common sense calls for elimination of the red tape that makes it more difficult for small local charities to raise funds. Commonsense tells us that we need to create new ways to deal with the drug problem in our state.
The problems that exist in the state are going to require a lot more than partisan politics to resolve. It’s going to require all of us working together to bridge the gaps that are currently dividing us.
Evansville has a history of reconciliation. We were the site of a big event to bring together both northern and southern troops in 1887 with the blue and gray reunion. Our patriotism here was strong as a manufacturing center during World War II and as the home of the world’s largest flag in 1980.
Our city has a great history for business development as well. Downtown Evansville is where the first retail Sears store opened and the oldest, most respected revolving door manufacturer in the world is located in Evansville. We were once the refrigerator capital of the world and many cars rolled off of Evansville assembly lines.
Some people look at the past and say that Evansville’s best days are behind us, but I look to the future and believe that our best days are ahead.
If you would like to help with our campaign, visit us online at www.friendsofjohnnykincaid.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Johnny-Kincaid-1709150392675321
FOOTNOTE: This latter was posted without opinion, bias or editing.
Only in Vanderburgh County, do you have a race where the Republican is a working-class guy and the Democrat is a silver spoon child of the wealthy elite. Kincaid has worked his whole life and lives in a modest house and Hatfield, fresh out of college, has a $300,000 house among the socialites in downtown Evansville. Surely he didn’t think the baby grand piano and nice fireplace in his video would help the voters of Vanderburgh County relate to him. Just another prince of the oligarchy waiting to be crowned.
It seems that Hatfield demonstrated what we can expect if we elect him during a meeting at Zion Church last night. He attended at the behest of Gail Riecken, the retiring State Rep. Hatfield launched an attack on Blight-Fighter George Lumley. Mr. Lumley stood his ground against Mr. Silverspoon, who is apparently not used to such behavior, as he went scurrying from the room. I haven’t heard if he followed in Gail’s footsteps and holed-up in a hotel in Peoria or not. Has anybody heard?
Johnny is a nice person who has done a lot of good work in the community. He and Jill are both very genuine.
“Hatfield, fresh out of college”
What a joke. If by “college” you mean law school, and you also forgot that he has been gainfully employed since then. My best advice for you, Square Deal, is to take two weeks off.. Then quit.
He’s fresh out of law school and feeding at the public trough. His gainful employment is the public payroll, as he is a deputy prosecutor. Maybe he should try getting a real job and see how he does in private practice. His work for the good of the public gets him a paycheck.
Kincaid is a volunteer for good public causes. His work with Chemo Buddies is outstanding. I know that personally.
The silver spoon guy wants to start his double dipping while he’s young. He wants a paycheck from the Prosecutor and another one from the State. Government just can’t do enough for him can it?
What is Mr Kincaid’s position on petty, victimless crimes like MJ possession, etc? What is his position on antiquated religious bullcrap like bans on Sunday alcohol sales? What is his position on frivilous, costly “bathroom bills,” gay marriage bans, etc. To sum it up, is he going to just be another right wing yes man?
Kincaid stated in the Courier candidate forum that he was FOR Sunday alcohol sales. Most of his views are pretty moderate so I’d guess NO on the typical right wing man. He’s also talked a lot about common sense in legislation and questioned why we need some of these controversial bills.
English Bob: Check out Mr. Kincaid’s responses to questions in the paper. I believe you might get a different perspective. He is definitely not another right wing yes man. He loves this community and his involvement over the years proves that. I know it sounds corny but he is running for state rep because he really wants to help the people of this area. If you ever get the opportunity to listen to him speak, you might very well change how you feel at this time.
I was asking, not assuming. I don’t know anything about the guy, therefore I was trying to find out. I’m just wondering what reason we have to think he won’t be beholden to our awful republican leadership in Indianapolis.
I realize you were not assuming and they all were fair questions. I believe you will get your answers as the campaign progresses. I like his fresh approach to politics, honest and sincere. Just my opinion.
Because as Square Deal said, it’s like a freaky Friday — Kincaid acts like a democrat and Hatfield acts like a republican. If you honestly did not know their party affiliations you’d swear it was the other way around.
Most of the talented and motivated millennials, even in the silver spoon crowd, have fled Evansville as it lays dying. We can only look forward to more attempts at office to be made by the left=behind silver spooners. If Hatfield sees your poll, he will try to raise a million dollars for his campaign. He spent forty thousand to defeat a competent non-spooner who spent about a tenth of that amount. He got the job done by just over two hundred votes. You can’t buy better genes, but you can buy a lot of advertising.
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