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Hot dogs, chips and political doin's on the Mississippi River.

Always feed the crowd first.

Tonia Batts and Jason Batts - co-founders of Jackson Purchase Republicans

Com'r Comer and Paducah's WPSD Local 6 camera

Crowd listens to Com'r Comer pledge to flip the House.

Rep. Steven Rudy - it's all about control of the House.

L to R: Keith Travis, Randy Bridges, Danny Carroll, Kenny Imes, Richard Heath

Randy Bridges - challenger to Rep. Gerald Watkins

Rep. Heath talks with GOP staffers.

Rep. Imes of Murray

Keith Travis is running against Will Coursey

Rep. Bechler

Flipping the House is picnic theme.

(Columbus KY – July 28, 2014) – It was a beautiful evening overlooking an increasingly smaller bluff as 137 Republicans gathered for the first ever “Picnic and Politics in the Park” sponsored by The Jackson Purchase Republicans.

This is a new group, organized by attorney Jason Batts and wife, optometrist Tonia Batts, The goal is not, according to Mr. Batts, to be a replacement for local GOP organizations.

“Our goal is to coordinate with the 8 counties in the Jackson Purchase to help highlight the events, candidates, and issues of Republican candidates. We do not work with the local GOP executive committees, we work for them, we work for the candidates, and we work for the voters. We are a grassroots organization born out of the sense of urgency to make a change felt by many in the area.”

The event was sponsored by River Valley Ag Credit, Clinton Bank, Batts Law Firm, Deweese Farms, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Kimbell, Sanders of Fancy Farm, Mr. and Mrs. David Travis, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Batts, Hancock Farms and Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Crittendon.

The keynote speaker was Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer, in the Purchase all week before the Fancy Farm Picnic meeting with Kentucky Pride agricultural participants and attending political events. Comer spent time speaking to FFA (Future Farmers of America) members before the program got underway.

After a free hotdog and chips supper, the politicians lined up to do what they do best at events like these – talk red meat to supporters. The theme of the evening was Flipping the House. Speakers told the crowd that, with a simple majority in the Kentucky House and Senate, no governor’s veto would stand. Five seats is all it will take to change the House from a Democratic majority to a Republican.

Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer told the crowd that he would do everything in his power to take majority leadership of the House away from Speaker Greg Stumbo. He told the crowd that agriculture is recession proof. Ag sales went from five billion in sales to six billion in sales In one year's time. He said that “we are at a competitive disadvantage because other states have passed tax reform, pension reform and tort reform.”

Comer presented a rosy picture if Republicans take over.

“Overnight, Kentucky will be transformed. We will be a more business friendly state. We will have a better public education system. We will spend tax dollars more efficiently and have a government that is more accountable to the taxpayer.”

Comer sidestepped the question who will be running for governor by saying before talk of running for governor, the Kentucky House has to be flipped. Over the next sixty days, his focus will be to see that control of the House shifts.

Unopposed First District Republican Representative Steven Rudy laid out his vision of the priorities of a new House majority. “With 51 votes in the House, Day One pro-life bills pass.”

Referring to control of the House, Rudy said that Democrats are scared. “They’re going to lie, cheat and steal to keep it”.

Richard Heath, 2nd District House Representative, reiterated Rudy’s message: the top priority of the Republican majority will be pro-life. He told the crowd that the bible said that marriage is for one man and one woman. “Why are we debating it? It is written down.”

Attorney Jesse Wright of Mayfield is running against Heath in the general election.

Rep. Kenny Imes, who is unopposed, represents the 5th District, home to Murray State University, said that there is something wrong when college age kids don’t know the name of the vice president.

Imes said that one bill he sponsored got a hearing in the House. It was a bill to require all candidates for state office to visit Pike and Fulton Counties. The bill went nowhere.

Lynn Bechler, who represents the 4th House District, exhorted listeners to talk to people about the values we have. Bechler has a challenger in Jarrod Jackson.

Senate candidate Danny Carroll, running for the seat vacated by retiring Bob Leeper, is opposed by Jeff Parker on the Democratic side. Carroll spent his time explaining why he is running. He finished by saying he wants to be a strong conservative leader.

Randy Bridges, running for the 3rd District seat in McCracken against incumbent Gerald Watkins, said that there will be changes not made in 100 years if Republicans take the House.

Keith Travis, a hospital administrator, is seeking the 6th District seat currently held by Rep. Will Coursey. Travis said that Kentucky is known as an “economic sinkhole.”

Michael Pape, standing in for US Congressman Ed Whitfield, explained to the crowd that an ethics complaint brought against his boss, was the work of disgruntled Shelbyville Tennessee horse people who resented Whitfield’s bill to strengthen prohibitions on the practice of “soring” walking horse. The practice was banned under the Horse Protection Act of 1970. The ethics complaint alleges Whitfield’s wife, a lobbyist for the American Humane Society, improperly lobbied him.

Pape didn’t mention a report issued by The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting which may lead to a second ethics complaint. The Center’s report cited the Whitfield’s purchase of property in Virginia in partnership with another registered lobbyist, Juanita Duggan whose clients frequently donate to Whitfield’s campaign chest and have business before an energy committee upon which the congressman serves. Whitfield has denied any wrongdoing in that instance.

The Jackson Purchase Republican group is not organized in any traditional sense nor is it a part of the party structure of local committees. But it has brought to life an event that may prove to be the kick off for a week of politics in far western Kentucky. Those in attendance at this first event agreed that it would be a good idea to gather next year - same place, same time.