GOVERNOR SERIES – Bob Devore

For the working-class Republican

By Chelene Nightingale

Jobe Publishing, Inc.

 

Abraham Lincoln famously declared: “Elections belong to the people.  It’s their decision.”

Unfortunately, political parties, media, and even some voters have forgotten this key fact. Every election cycle, the two major political parties push forth their chosen candidates. The biased media spotlight only their favorite candidates, while ignoring any independent or third-party choices. Therefore, many voters never hear about all the other candidates campaigning during primary season.

Jobe Publishing, Inc. (JPI) believes in fair and free elections and wants our readers to be well-informed voters. Over the next few weeks, until the primary election on May 16, we will feature interviews with all 15 registered candidates for governor.

The first candidate in our series is Bob DeVore who characterizes himself as the candidate for the “working class Republicans.”  JPI interviewed DeVore at Barren County’s Lincoln Day dinner in February. He stood at a table in the reception area waiting to speak with conservative voters with handout postcards with details about his campaign.

DeVore wants more affordable housing for seniors; in addition, he wants to eliminate property taxes, vehicle taxes, and state income taxes for everyone over the age of 62. For parents of school-age children, he advocates for their rights and involvement. Plus, he would support trade skill classes for high school students. His postcard also includes the following statement: “Strengthen all small businesses and independent external processes for Agriculture development of products and services.”

Although DeVore attended the Barren County Lincoln Day Dinner, he was not on the event’s schedule to speak. After the scheduled governor candidates spoke, he walked up to the stage and politely asked to speak. “I am also a candidate for governor. May I say something?” Barren County Republican Committee Vice-Chair, Barbara Pendleton, looked at the schedule and then asked for his name. “Sorry, I do not see your name on the schedule,” she replied. She then asked Richard McClard, the Barren County Republican Committee Chairman, for his assistance. McClard gave DeVore a firm no. The disappointed candidate walked away from the stage.

Although DeVore was disappointed, Secretary of State Mike Adams, who is in charge of Kentucky elections, posted the following on social media: “Barren County GOP consistently runs one of the best Lincoln Dinners in the state. And by keeping the cranks and perennial candidates off the stage, they get you back on the road in a cool two hours.”

JPI asked DeVore for his reaction, “They refused my Constitutional rights as a Republican candidate and no one in the room spoke up to defend my right of free speech. If Kentucky voters do not defend free speech for all candidates, then free speech will slip away into the past.”

George Washington warned of the danger of losing free speech: “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

JPI agrees with both George Washington and Bob DeVore, so we selected to publish our interview with him first to give him a voice for his campaign. He shared that he was a Freemason who chooses God first and then Kentucky. He is a World War II Veteran who served in the Navy for 24 years. Like President Washington, DeVore only wants to serve one four-year term. “People need to get involved in the process. Career politicians are destroying our country.”

When asked about the state’s opioid crisis, Bob DeVore believes Kentucky needs to educate youth on the dangers of substances, but the rewards of hard work. “Kentuckians need job opportunities. Many abuse drugs, because they are not working and feeling hopeless.”

Regarding agriculture, DeVore stated Kentucky doesn’t need to go outside the state for food. “We need to listen to our farmers and support them.” He added that Kentucky is home to 38,000 beef farmers and approximately 1,000 poultry farmers. To learn more about DeVore’s campaign, visit his website www.morewithdevore.com.

DeVore’s final words for Jobe Publishing readers are, “I am the governor who would tell the federal government their mandates will be left outside the Kentucky border. We will not comply to tyranny. Give me liberty and stay out of our state.”