Election 2012: Richard Nest joins race for Bardstown City Council

STAFF REPORT

Aug. 14, 2012, 10 a.m. — Bardstown resident Richard Nest filed this morning as the 9th candidate for Bardstown City Council. In a press release issued Tuesday morning, Nest explained his reasons for seeking a council seat.

RICHARD NEST

I have dedicated myself to run for City Council being the right person for the right reason. This will not be my first service to my community. In the Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, I served on the Cable Advisory Board, as well as chaired special town manager projects. For the town of Topsham, Maine, I served on the planning board until I moved away. I am a lifetime member of American Legion Post 121, Bardstown and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign War.

I am partially retired and have the time to devote to being a councilman. I hold a Kentucky Life Insurance license and I am a self employed signing agent, specializing in real estate transactions.

A great experience in Bardstown was attending Leadership Nelson County Class of 2010.

I have volunteered and set up Silent Auctions for the American Legion 121 Boys State, Kentucky Bourbon Festival and Nelson County Educational Fund.

I have raised money on an individual basis, as a Personal Chef, for Nelson County Community Clinic, Hospice of Nelson County and the Humane Society of Nelson County.

COUNCIL PLATFORM.  My City Council Platform is:

1. Public Safety. which means to me a duty to support the improvement of equipment and personnel needed to protect our city. That is not a rubber stamp but a strong belief to protect our city and citizens.

2. Annexation of unincorporated territory. Could be a very big word and process for us. Reference: “deemed beneficial and necessary to the welfare of the City of Bardstown for its orderly growth and economic development”. One area I intend to be a specialist if elected.

3. Expand special project committees with duties and responsibilities. That will actually put the talents of our citizens to work for the betterment of our city.

4. Water Treatment Plant. City Council minutes dated 4-12-11. Public Works Director Larry Hamilton said that the city may need to provide a more effective chlorine removal system within five years. The clock has started and I would like to know more. I keep getting notices in my city bill.

5. Spend the much needed time on the income and expense issues of our city. Special committees, “talents of our citizens” can and should be the city councils research department. A special committee I once chaired saved the Town of Cape Elizabeth tens of thousand of dollars.

6. Keep all lines of communication open to and from county government. Do more, save more. All committees and boards that carry the heading “Bardstown-Nelson County” should be working for the common goal.

7. It does include the possibility of revisiting the occupational tax. This new ordinance in 2012 did replace the 2003 ordinance, I feel updating was needed but the revising I suggest would focus on exemptions only.

Nest is married to Martha Nest, owner of Westview Tax Services, and have no children.

-30-