A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

The Primary: Robert Neace, Boone County attorney; Darrell Link, state House District 61


The NKyTribune is offering an opportunity for those in contested NKY races in the primary election to make their case — and themselves — better known to voters. This opportunity is open and free: 800 words max., positive FOR your candidacy. Send to news@nkytrib.com. Nothing will appear after May 20.

ROBERT NEACE
Boone County Attorney

On May 22, Boone County voters get to decide the course of Boone County government for the next four years. The office I presently hold, Boone County Attorney, is one of the elected offices on the ballot.

The county attorney is much more than just a prosecutor. While my office does prosecute all criminal cases in the Boone District Court, we also handle all juvenile matters, guardianships, Casey’s Law petitions, mental health petitions and child support issues. In addition, we advise and represent the Boone County Fiscal Court, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the Boone County Jail, and the Boone County Clerk. I am also the attorney for the Boone County Board of Elections and various other local government agencies. As you can see, it is a big job. Experience and leadership abilities matter in this position.

Robert Neace

I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky College of Law. I have over 30 years of legal experience. In addition to having significant prosecutorial experience, I have extensive experience handling complex civil litigation.

I was the chief prosecutor for the Boone County Child Support Program from 1989 until the beginning of my tenure as Boone County Attorney in 2007. I have served as a public defender, hearing officer for the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources, and an assistant Boone/Gallatin Commonwealth’s Attorney under Willie Mathis. In private practice, I handled a wide range of matters including family law issues, medical malpractice, personal injury, workers’ compensation and represented a large insurance carrier.

Upon becoming the Boone County Attorney I knew that assembling a talented and professional team was of utmost importance. As the office handles approximately twenty thousand cases a year, our team must work well together, and each individual team member must exercise sound judgment. I presently have seven assistant county attorneys and fourteen staff members consisting of legal secretaries, paralegals, law clerks, a receptionist and child support caseworkers. We have been fortunate in that once employed, we very rarely lose a team member. The success of the office is directly related to the ability and talent of our team.

In my time as Boone County Attorney, the Boone County Child Support Program, which I lead, has been recognized on numerous occasions as a top performer by the Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Division. The Boone County Child Support Program collects over $16 in child support for each dollar it is funded. The state average is under $7 and the national average is under $6.

The office of the Boone County Attorney has consistently achieved high conviction rates for DUI cases since my time in office. I am committed to aggressively prosecuting DUI cases and getting drunk drivers off of our roads. The safety of all citizens who use our roadways is of utmost importance to me.

I have been recognized by my peers for my leadership skills. I am a past president of the Kentucky County Attorney’s Association. I have been recognized on the floor of the Kentucky Senate for my leadership regarding child support issues. I am presently one of only three Kentucky County Attorneys serving on the board of the Prosecutor’s Advisory Council, the agency of state government that oversees the financial and educational needs of all prosecutorial offices throughout Kentucky.

However, regardless of what I or my office may have accomplished in the past, it is imperative that the office of Boone County Attorney continue to strive to move forward. The scourge of heroin abuse and addiction has drastically and negatively affected the lives of so many in our county. I pledge if I am reelected to not only continue to work closely with our judges and police agencies to seek appropriate enforcement through the criminal justice system, but also help explore and develop better means for the criminal justice system and county to deal with the drug epidemic.

I pledge to continue to improve ways to collect child support for custodial parents and their children who count on that support. And finally, I pledge to continue to listen to those who seek and need my counsel and provide them the help and guidance they need.

I truly love and enjoy the work required of the office of Boone County Attorney. What happens in Boone County matters to me. I will continue to work as hard as I can to make our county the best it can possibly be. I am asking for your vote on May 22.

DARRELL LINK
Kentucky House District 61
(Kenton, Grant, Boone & Scott counties)

I am a lifelong resident of Grant County and have been a leader in our community as well as statewide. As Judge-Executive, I served four terms as Grant County’s top elected official, serving on statewide boards, including a term as President of the Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association. In 2015, I took on a new role as the Executive Director of the statewide Council on Area Development Districts, providing leadership and assistance on infrastructure, economic development and workforce development for all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

During my time in elected office, I led the plan to rebuild infrastructure, roads, and waterlines without raising taxes, and created a model for the county animal shelter that is emulated statewide.

Darrell Link

I am a graduate of Northern Kentucky University and reside on our family farm with my wife Candace Beighle Link. We have two adult children and three grandchildren.

We can change Frankfort by sending experienced people who have a proven track record of getting things done for the people. I stand with public education, our teachers, state workers, first responders, working families, small businesses and family farmers. Government can help drive and grow our economy while being fair to everyone. I am not going to build a career, but to get things done and help straighten out the mess in our state government.

We’ve got a lot of problems in Frankfort. It is time to get serious about the pension debt, balancing the state budget and finding solutions that will not hurt Kentucky’s families. Protecting teachers and saving our public education system is at the top of my priority list. People are very worried about health care costs. I will work to increase access to health care for those without employer-provided plans and to protect medical coverage for seniors. My depth of experience at both the local and state level will help bring a strong voice for the citizens of the 61st District as well as for all Kentuckians.


My experience as judge-executive in local government, working with the Area Development Districts statewide and my ability to bring people together to accomplish goals makes me the best, most qualified candidate in this race.


For more information, you can visit my website.


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