Editor’s Note: The NKyTribune is offering one free op-ed postings from NKY candidates in major races in which there is opposition for the November 3 General Election. All candidates may send op-ed’s of 1000 words or less to be published before November 1. The commentary should be positive about the candidate and his/her positions. Candidates are asked not to wait until the last minute — submissions will be published in the order in which they are received.
Public service has been the thread running through every chapter of my life. It is also the reason I am seeking to represent you as your county commissioner.
People often ask why I got into politics. My answer has always been the same: my job is public service, not politics. That distinction matters. Politics can become about parties, personalities, and the next election. Public service is about listening, solving problems, and putting the people you represent first. That is the approach I will bring to the Boone County Fiscal Court.
I began my career as a Florence police officer, later served as Boone County’s jail administrator and retired as head of the U.S. Marshals Service for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Those experiences taught me that public safety depends on preparation, accountability, and trust. They also showed me the importance of making decisions with real consequences for people’s lives. A budget is not just a collection of numbers; it supports the services residents rely on every day.
After retiring from law enforcement, I drove a school bus for Boone County Schools for some time before being elected to the Kentucky State Senate, where I represented you for 16 years. During that time, I worked to support small businesses and championed Kentucky’s signature industries, including thoroughbred racing and bourbon. I was honored to be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. I am proud of that recognition, but what matters most to me is the work behind it: helping strengthen industries that create jobs, support families, and contribute to Kentucky’s identity.
Now I am asking for the opportunity to serve Boone County in a different role. The county commissioner’s job is to serve the citizens—hearing their concerns, understanding their priorities, and representing them on the Fiscal Court. The county’s budget is nearly $96 million. Managing that responsibility requires careful attention, clear priorities, and a willingness to explain how decisions affect residents.
If elected, I will treat the commissioner’s office as a listening post for all the citizens of Boone County. That means hearing from people throughout the county, not only those who agree with me or share my politics. Residents deserve an accessible representative who takes their questions seriously, follows up, and brings their concerns to the Fiscal Court. Listening does not mean every request can be granted. It does mean every person deserves to be heard and every decision deserves a thoughtful explanation.
I will approach the county budget with the same sense of responsibility I brought to public safety and state government. Taxpayer dollars should be spent carefully, with attention to essential services and the long-term well-being of the community. County government should be practical and accountable. It should focus on what local government can do well, and it should be clear with the public about its choices.
My values are straightforward. I am pro-life and support the Second Amendment. I will stand up against government overreach and uncontrolled growth. Whatever the issue before the Fiscal Court, I will remember that my responsibility is to the citizens of Boone County. I will not assume that government knows best simply because it is government. I will ask whether a decision is necessary, responsible, and in the public’s interest.
Boone County is a community with a strong sense of identity and a promising future. Its residents deserve county leadership that respects their hard work, protects the services they depend on, and plans responsibly for what lies ahead. That takes cooperation, sound judgment, and the humility to keep listening—even when the discussion is difficult.
My years in law enforcement and the Kentucky Senate have prepared me to take on this responsibility, but experience alone is not enough. A commissioner must remain accountable to the people who elected them. If you send me to the Fiscal Court, I will work hard to earn that trust every day. I will listen, ask questions, weigh the facts and make decisions with Boone County’s interests at the forefront.
I am not running to pursue politics for its own sake. I am running because public service is the work I know and the work I believe in. I ask for your support and your vote so I can serve you and help put the citizens of Boone County first.
John Schickel served as Kentucky State Senator from 2009-2025. He is now a condidate for Boone County Commissioner