By Todd Hatton, Seth Helton (Web)
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-927004.mp3
Murray, KY – On The Q&A this week, we're beginning our series of discussions with the area's incumbents and challengers for public office this fall Today, we're speaking with Corey McBee. He's the Republican Calloway County native taking on incumbent Democratic Representative Melvin Henley for the 5th District seat, which includes Calloway County and part of Trigg. The recent Murray State graduate is also 24-years-old, which means, if elected, McBee would be the youngest-ever Kentucky state representative.
"Realistically, the need to serve is what brought me into politics," says McBee. "I'm serving a little sooner than I anticipated, but I couldn't stand by and watch the process go by without jumping in and making a difference." McBee hopes to make a difference with the issues that cause the most concern for Kentuckians. He says that job security, education, taxes, and putting food on the table are a few of the worries that Kentucky has. "There are always other issues, but the predominant concern is economic."
The support McBee has received as he campaigns across the 5th district has been positive. "I've been trying to get out and meet people. I've attended numerous events in Trigg and Murray," he says. The county-level Republican organizations have been supportive of McBee, who was the Calloway County Youth Chairman before taking his current position. He started the first conservative club at Murray High School. McBee was active with College Republicans at Murray State University, who he says have been a tremendous help.
McBee has even garnered support from the local Tea Party group, but they have not officially endorsed him. "I'm not as concerned with being the status-quo politician who is out there looking for the right endorsements; I'm really just trying to get out there and get to the people." If McBee makes it to Frankfort, he says he plans to target waste in the budget. He doesn't wish to increase the tax burden on citizens, and he would like to create policies that would allow businesses to thrive, especially small businesses.
McBee hopes that budget changes will help to employ more Kentuckians, especially in areas like Trigg county where at one time was around 19%. McBee plans to spur job growth by giving short-term tax breaks to businesses that are expanding and employing more people, instead of penalizing them for their payroll reaching over a set level. The current way that businesses are taxed, he says, encourages them to maintain or reduce job growth. "By allowing these businesses to grow, we are taking people off government welfare systems, employ them, and then they can pay taxes," he says.
On education, McBee agrees that students are not reaching goals. Kentucky needs to target underperforming schools and determine the issues; whether it is the students or teachers. McBee says that by only focusing on standardized tests we do not fully measure student's abilities. Instead the students only learn the test material and do not receive the well-rounded education needed for college. "We need to have more time with teachers being observed and reviewed, and the students as well... a more dynamic relationship between students and teachers is key."
Within the GOP, McBee says he is a small government conservative who believes that the state should protect people, not hinder them. McBee recognizes the difficulties of being the "new guy," and the stresses of working in Frankfurt. "You can't do it for the money," he says, "you have got to do it because you want to make a difference."