SOUTH SHORE, Ky. — Lewis Nicholls, a former Greenup County Circuit Judge, was the guest speaker at the Alben W. Barkley Democratic Club (ABDC) meeting held Thursday at the McKell Public Library.
Nicholls was recently selected to serve as the Democratic candidate for State Representative for the 98th District. Nicholls is running to fill the remainder of the term of former State Representative, Tanya Pullin who was sworn in as an administrative law judge by Governor Matt Bevin.
Nicholls said his acceptance as the 98th District State Representative candidate came as the result of following through on his own personal philosophy.
“I am running for the 98th District State Representative. I think that our country, our county, our state has a lot of problems,” Nicholls said. “I have always said when I was on the bench, that good people need to step up, they need to run for office. Then, went I went into retirement I thought I was pretty safe in those words, and then when I got the call and was asked to serve, I thought, well I am going to have to put my money where my mouth is.”
Problems such as lack of jobs and drugs were among the issues that inspired Nicholls to accept the candidacy for the 98th District.
“I have unique training, education and experience that will help us find solutions to these problems,” Nicholls said. “I have an opportunity to actually influence policy decisions if I am successful. I think that with the unique training and experience that I have that I have the duty to step up and try to do the best that I can for the people in the 98th District.”
Nicholls will face GOP nominee, Tony Quillen in the special election scheduled for March 8, 2016. He said what sets him apart from his opponent, Quillen, is the fact that he is an attorney, is a veteran, and served in the Federal Republic of Germany for three years, and started three drug courts in Greenup, Lewis and Mason counties.
Rick Brown, President of the ABDC, said he is elated about Nicholls’s candidacy.
“I am so excited about this candidacy. We’ve got a candidate here that has the wisdom and experience that we need to lead this district,” Brown said. “We are calling on everybody to get behind Lewis Nicholls, and I think for the betterment of Boyd and Greenup counties we will be well-served to support him.”
Dealing with the problems with jobs and drugs are at the top of Nicholls list of priorities.
“What has happened in our area over the years is that we have had a few weeds get into our economic garden. To name a couple of those things, it has been a strained relationship between labor and management, and I am not placing any blame on anybody, but everybody knows that that’s a fact,” Nicholls said. “What we have to do is try to address these weeds. We also have another weed, and that weed is called drugs. These things are interrelated. I cannot stand here and tell you that I can bring in tons, and tons of jobs that is something beyond my control, but there are things that you can do to fertilize that field.”
One of Nicholls’s solution is the establishment of a Labor Management Center. He also talked about the adoption of Casey’s Law, which will help with treatment for those who struggle with drug addiction through the court system.
“Everybody wants the same thing. People want to be able to make a good living, to be able to support their families, and maybe take a vacation every once in a while, and enjoy their lives,” Nicholls said.
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