Randy K. Smith
Republican Candidate for State Representative
District 99
(Rowan, Elliott, Lewis Counties)
Conservative * Pro-Life * Christian Values *
Supporter of the 2nd Amendment
"Citizens United For A Better Kentucky,
for a Better Tomorrow."
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CAMPAIGN BUZZ
October 31, 2015
Smith to Run For House Seat
by Larry DeHart
Published in the October 31, 2015 edition of "The Morehead News"
“Citizens united for a better Kentucky for a better tomorrow.”
That is what Randy Smith said about his bid for the Republican nomination for the 99th District House of Representatives seat.
You might know him as the fiery preacher who led the rally cries against gay marriage over the summer on the lawn of the Rowan County Courthouse.
But Randy Smith says he just tries to be himself.
“I really don’t try to shape how I’m known. I just be me. One thing about when you be yourself is that people can understand what drives you,” said Smith.
Now he wants to be the district’s new legislator in the state’s House of Representatives.
Smith on Thursday filed his intent to run on the Republican primary ticket for the seat currently held by Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins.
The 45-year-old grandfather of two was born in Pike County and his family moved to Bath County when he was 12.
Smith has been married for 27 years and has been a life insurance salesperson since 2009. He’s also pastor over the elders at Charity Freewill Baptist Church on KY 519.
The 2016 primary election that will include the House seat on the ballot is set for May 17.According to the state Secretary of State website, there are over 16,000 registered Democrats and almost 11,600 registered Republicans in the district that includes Rowan, Elliott and Lewis counties.Smith said that he realizes he’s been accused of hate but wanted to clarify that he doesn’t hate anyone.He said the issue of county clerks issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples goes back on Gov. Steve Beshear not anticipating the problem and failing to enact provisions beforehand.“It’s not so much that we’re trying to stop homosexual marriage. We’re just trying to stop the homosexual agenda from imposing its will on people that have strong, deeply sincere religious convictions,” said Smith. “With Kim Davis her whole thought process is just to accommodate her like we would in any other situation. We’re a nation that has been blessed to accommodate people and we do it for just about everyone of any religion. But why don’t we do that for Christians?”
Smith said some of the top issues he sees in the district is drug use, unemployment, the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System funding shortfall, better preservation of local and state history, and increased safety and compensation for law enforcement officers.He also said the issue over religious freedom that occurred this year when County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses is what set the wheels in motion for him to make the decision to run.“Obviously I didn’t know it was going to happen. I had no intention whatsoever of and never even thought about seeking public office,” said Smith. “But I remember telling people throughout the whole thing that we need Christian people involved in our government and that the reason that we are as a society the way that I perceive that we are is because we don’t have the Christian influence in government that we need to have.”Smith added that the debate over religious freedom really spurred an interest in his heart about trying to see if God has opened up a door for him to try to be an influence.“I’m just trying to be obedient,” he said.
Smith said that he is not a career politician and that the founding fathers never meant for the U.S. to have people in office for long periods of time.He said that if he wins the general election next fall he will be governed by his constituents and by conviction.“I’m not just simply going to lick my finger, stick it in the air, and see which way the winds of popularity blow. Rocky has done a lot of good things but there’s a lot of areas that I feel like he has probably neglected. I think the folks in Rowan, Lewis and Elliott counties deserve some fresh wind and fresh fire from their state representative,” said Smith.
(Larry DeHart can be reached at ldehart@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 606-784-4116.)
Original article can be found here:
http://www.themoreheadnews.com/news/local_news/smith-to-run-for-house-seat/article_6f752a52-7f29-11e5-918b-97a6de01872c.html
Local preacher taking on Adkins in House
By TEMECKA EVANS For The Daily Independent | Posted: Monday, November 9, 2015 11:41 pm
MOREHEAD- Randy Smith, a Rowan County evangelist who gained local prominence and some national exposure as the leader of the “support Kim Davis” movement, is running for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Smith, 45, filed to run in the May primary as a Republican for the chance to unseat incumbent Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (D-Morehead) in Kentucky’s 99th District. Adkins was elected to the seat in 1986.
If elected, Smith said he plans to better the education system in Rowan, Elliott and Lewis counties. He believes in the concept of religious freedom, wants to improve retirement plans for teachers and increase wages for the police force. He said he’s going to host multiple town meetings in all three counties to gauge public interest.
“That will give the people a chance to either tell me where I am lacking or if I’m doing OK, and then it would be my job to listen and fix the problems,” he said. “I would do a better job by governing by my constituents and convictions.”
Smith didn’t grow up in Morehead. He spent his childhood in Pike County and moved to Bath County when he was 12 and graduated from Bath County High School. Christianity became the focal point of his identity 28 years ago.
Davis supporters
When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage and Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis refused to issue marriage licenses based on religious convictions, Smith decided to lend support for his friend.
“The homosexual is not an enemy. We love the person, but according to scripture, that lifestyle is wrong,” said Smith. “I really felt like her (Davis’) religious liberty had been violated. She was simply using her rights.”
Smith emerged as the leader for religious freedom advocates standing behind Davis. He said he left his job in insurance to focus on the movement. He led rallies outside the Rowan courthouse and spoke in front of thousands of supporters at the Capitol and the Carter County Detention Center.
He said the saga was part of the reason he decided to run for office. Since the rallies began, Smith said he’s found more opportunities to share his religious teachings to all those who are willing to listen to the word. But he contends that he’s an advocate for religious freedom, not just Christian liberty.
“I wish America was a strictly Christian nation because I know the truth, but religious liberty is extended to all, no matter religious background,” Smith said.
Smith acknowledged there are people who will view him as full of hate, but he said those people do not know the real him. According to Smith, there has never been a person in need he has turned away.
In a Democratic county that didn’t vote for Kentucky governor-elect Matt Bevin (R) — who was endorsed by Davis — Smith believes he can win Rowan. He compared his candidacy to a David versus Goliath scenario and that he’s compelled by God to run.
“I have to do what is right in my heart,” he said, “and be obedient.”
This article can be found here:
http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/local-preacher-taking-on-adkins-in-house/article_4e75b350-8765-11e5-a5a5-c72abb07b061.html?mode=print