Keith Berry: Magistrate District 1 Candidate

Name: Keith Berry

What office are you seeking: Magistrate District 1

What is your age: 67

Please provide your family background:

I am married to Sue, a retired social worker with Methodist Hospital. We have been married for 38 years. We have a spoiled Schnauzer named Walker.

What is your educational background:

I graduated from Webster County High School and the Eastern Kentucky University Department of Criminal Justice Training.

Have you been elected to a political office previously? If so, what office(s) and when did you hold the office(s): 

I am currently the Henderson County District One Magistrate and have served in this position since 2019. I also served on the audit committee for the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association in Frankfort.

What is your professional background? (Please include career and any boards and volunteer work): 

I have extensive law enforcement training and certification. I also have extensive training through the Kentucky Magistrate Association and the Department of Local Government, including budgets, roads, natural disasters, flood plains, environmental issues, economic development, etc. My Department of Government training is available for review online through the Kentucky Department of Local Government website. I attend Community Baptist Church, and I serve as a member of the Henderson Elks Lodge #206, Henderson Moose Lodge #732, Henderson Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9, Jerusalem Masonic Lodge #9, and Rizpah Shriners.

Why are you running for office:

To serve the people of district one of Henderson County. Currently, I have 37 years of experience as a public servant. I feel that I am professionally qualified. I served this county as a Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy for 25 ears. I faced every type of situation imaginable and saw the people of Henderson County in some very difficult situations. I embraced each situation to the best of my ability. I have kept this as my goal the past eight years, and I hope I have the support of district one to continue.

If elected to office, what would be your top three goals: 

1. First, I will listen to your concerns and if I cannot answer a concern, I will always get back to you with an answer. We have an ongoing challenge in planning for the present and future needs of our county. We must listen to our citizens and then prioritize our future goals including economic development by being business-friendly, provide quality education, and retain our young people in our county.
2. Second, be a good steward of your tax dollars. Many Kentucky counties are in extreme financial crisis due to poor planning and management. Henderson County currently is financially strong. We have not raised taxes in the eight years I have served on the court. We have decreased the insurance tax, and our county is currently financially sound, which is important in case of natural disaster or a need within our county structure.
3. My vision for Henderson County is to be the best we can be! To be the most efficient Fiscal Court in the state, and for Henderson County to be a destination. A destination for entrepreneurs, major corporations, and a destination where people want to reside and raise their families. This can be achieved by everyone working together with a common goal. I want to be part of that effort.

Why should people vote for you:

I feel that I have the experience and I am most qualified. I grew up on a family-owned farm. Hard work was not an option, it was expected. During my law enforcement career, I served as a deputy, sergeant, and retired as a lieutenant. As a supervisor my duties include budget planning and implementation, also I served as a training instructor. I routinely worked with government agencies on a local, state, and federal level. A law enforcement career is very challenging, and I embraced it with the goal to listen to every individual encountered and to resolve their situation to the best of my ability. This was good training. If re-elected, I will listen to your concerns and work with fiscal court to accomplish our goals in the most efficient manner. I will ALWAYS put the interests of district one and the people of Henderson County first.

Please feel free to add any additional comment: 

I believe county government works best when it is transparent, accountable, and grounded in the values of the people it serves. I would be honored to earn your vote. Together, we can keep district one and Henderson County financially sound and moving forward.