Thrasher plans to run for judge exec ‘because Nelson County can do better’
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 — Don Thrasher — the Salt River Road resident who has been in a dispute with Judge Executive Dean Watts regarding the renaming of his section of the former Louisville Road — announced Tuesday afternoon his plans to run for the office of Nelson County Judge Executive.
DON THRASHER
An election flyer emailed Tuesday to Nelson Fiscal Court and the media begins by stating, “AFTER 24 YEARS THE DAY HAS COME TO THRASH DECEITFUL DEAN WATTS OUT OF OFFICE.”
Thrasher’s announcement states he will run as “a caring conservative Republican that believes in the Founding Father’s dream of an inclusive government by the People, for the People and of the People.”
His announcement states he believes in conservative values, less government and lower taxes.
“Nelson County needs innovation and new ideas in a new economy,” the announcement states.
Thrasher’s past experience as an innovator includes starting a beverage company in 2003 that was an innovator with beverages sweetened by stevia, a naturally derived sweetener. His company merged with Los Angeles-based Zevia in 2006, and Thrasher served as that company’s chief operating officer.
“I have the proven ability to actually produce something, not just sell shoes and give you a phony smile,” the statement concludes.
Thrasher’s announcement lists some of the issues he has identified and the changes he would like to see.
ISSUE 1: SALARY. “The county judge executive salary is excessive. If elected I would not take the $100,000 salary, instead I would return $85,000 to the county’s general fund.
ISSUE 2: PLANNING COMMISSION. Thrasher states that in his view, the Joint Planning Commission no longer serves both the cities and the residents of unincorporated Nelson County.
Thrasher would propose splitting the commission and allow the city and county to address their own unique planning and zoning issues.
“One thing it shouldn’t do is require a hard-working person to apply to government to put up a fence on their own property.”
ISSUE 3: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. As an entrepreneur, Thrasher said he understands the difficulty involved with starting a business. As judge executive, he states he would have the county’s economic development agency implement a step-by-step assistance program for new business owners and to incentivize small companies to relocate here and nurture continued growth of local business and industry.
ISSUE 4: COUNTY JAIL. Jail overcrowding will push the county to build a new jail or send local inmates to other jails. Thrasher suggests using the “Army method” by using large quonset-type huts that could house low-level drug offenders at a lower cost.
ISSUE 5: OCCUPATIONAL TAX / BLOATED SALARIES. Thrasher called the salaries of some of Watt’s appointees’ “extremely bloated” and costing taxpayers too much. In an effort to try to eliminate the county’s occupational tax, he would look at eliminating “unnecessary salaries, positions and programs.”
Nelson County Clerk Elaine Filiatreau’s office was closed Tuesday and the Gazette was unable to confirm Thrasher’s candidacy paperwork has been filed. The county clerk’s office will only be open Wednesday and Thursday this week and the Gazette will have updates on filings as soon as they happen.
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