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Meet Ryan Olexia, candidate for KY Senate from Kenton County

Ryan Olexia is taking on Chris McDaniel for the Kentucky Senate seat from District 23 (Kenton County). Christina Conover caught up with Ryan for an interview, and we’re sharing his answers below.

For voters in your district who do not know you, introduce yourself to us.

Ryan Olexia and family (campaign photo)
Ryan Olexia and family (campaign photo)

I am a dad, a husband, a small business owner of a small animal veterinary practice, and an Army veteran. I grew up in an industrial part of West Virginia in a family of union steelworkers. My grandfather was a long-serving Democratic elected official in eastern Ohio who stressed the importance of community service and the values of the Democratic party.

My wife grew up in Northern Kentucky, and after my service in the Army we planted our roots in Park Hills, KY. We opened our veterinary practice in 2015 and have been extremely fortunate to be embraced by our community. I decided to run for office because I am frustrated by the divisive, hyper-partisan, points-scoring politics going on in Frankfort. I will be a state senator who advocates for the families in my district and not just the well-connected privileged few.

What are the realities of running for a political office that you have learned and would like to pass on to anyone else who considers candidacy in the future?

Running for office is unlike anything I’ve ever done before. I have been blessed with a wonderfully supportive family and circle of friends who have been there for me through the challenges of Army deployment, and professionally when opening my business. When my wife and I decided to open our business, we invested in the belief that we could win over clients one at a time and thankfully that has paid off.

Running for office is a lot like that; you have to connect with as many individuals as you can and convince them that you’re in this for the greater good and not just for personal achievement. That has been the most enjoyable part of this endeavor. Meeting and talking to new people every day has made this an amazingly rewarding experience. The one bit of knowledge I would pass on to someone considering a political run is never forget why you’re doing this – which for me is to do right by my neighbors.

In your opinion, what are the three most important issues facing Kentuckians?

  1. Public education: Our public education system is consistently under attack by politicians in Frankfort. Strong public education is not only how we unlock opportunity for all for our children, it is the key to Kentucky’s future economic success. I would have never had the opportunity to become a veterinarian without our public schools, and I am deeply committed to fighting for public education in Frankfort.
  2. ​Healthcare: Healthcare is a basic human right and far too many Kentuckians lack access to affordable, quality care. So many families who do have health insurance still face high premiums and deductibles and out-of-control costs for prescription drugs. It is wrong and we should be doing so much better.
  3. ​Public pensions: We have a weakened, underfunded pension system. People who go into public service aren’t motivated by exorbitant salaries but by the desire to serve the public and make Kentuckians’ lives better. And in return, they are promised a retirement that will afford them a financially secure post-work life. It is unconscionable that the Commonwealth would make a promise to a career educator, only to break that promise after a long career. The uncertainty of our pension system puts a substantial financial burden on local municipalities, makes it tougher to attract qualified candidates for essential jobs, and displays the indifference some legislators show towards some of our most essential public employees.

What have you done so far to convince voters that you are the right candidate for Kentucky, Senate District 23?

I start by listening. Before trying to convince people to vote for me, I need to understand what the biggest issues are facing the people and communities of the district. I’ve been making phone calls since the day I filed to run so as to hear directly from people in SD-23 about what they need from their state senator in Frankfort.

I run a small business here. I’m raising my kids here. I decided to run for office because our current leadership is totally out-of-touch and unaccountable to what is actually going on in the lives of families in this district, and is more concerned with scoring
partisan political points. I will be a state senator who is active and engaged in this community – and I will always work to do right by our families.

I had planned to be out meeting as many people as possible and having face-to-face conversations, but COVID-19 has obviously drastically changed the world. This has been a challenge, but has also created new opportunities to engage through social media.

In what ways have you reached out to voters who feel disenfranchised by our current political process, especially concerning issues around voter suppression and inequity of opportunity?

You reach voters by focusing on the things that directly affect their everyday lives and the futures of their families. I want people to know that their concerns matter and that I will be a state senator who fights for them.

We are in a pandemic. No-excuse vote-by-mail worked well in the primary and it should be available again for the general election. In addition, we need expanded early voting, extended voting hours, and more polling locations to make the voting process more accessible.

People absolutely have a right to feel frustrated with a political system that far too often seems to favor the well-connected, powerful few. Fully funding and investing in public education is one way that we can create opportunity across our Commonwealth, regardless of zip code.

If you are elected, you will be in the minority party. Do you believe you will be able to get your agenda through the state senate, and, if so, how?

What I hear over and over again from people on the campaign trail is that they just want pragmatic leaders who will figure out common-sense legislation to help out Kentucky families. We are in a global pandemic that has cratered our economy and thousands of Kentuckians have been infected with COVID-19 – there is no time for partisan games. I will work with any legislator who has an idea that will improve the life of people in the 23rd​ Senate District and rebuild our Commonwealth. I know that by leaving our biases at the door and simply working to improve our Commonwealth we can get things done.

As a voter, why should I be convinced that you are a better candidate than your opponent, Christian McDaniel? In other words, why should I vote for you?

I will fight for things that improve the lives of our neighbors and I’m not in this for personal recognition. Let’s be clear; if you’re frustrated with Frankfort, you are frustrated with my opponent. Chris McDaniel is a Matt Bevin Republican. As budget chair, he rubber-stamped the worst of the Bevin administration’s policies. This includes going after the pensions of our educators, social workers, and first responders. My opponent jeopardized funding for public education, including the Beechwood school district here in SD-23. He voted to repeal the Prevailing Wage and sponsored Right-to-Work (for less) legislation, which makes it harder for the working people of the Commonwealth to earn a fair wage. I will be present in the district talking to constituents, unlike the incumbent who only engages in the district around the election.

If you are elected, what is your first goal in office?

Right now we need leaders focused on rebuilding our economy and improving access to health care. I will be a vocal and strong ally of Governor Beshear in the Senate. He has led the Commonwealth through the pandemic while other elected officials have engaged in bad-faith efforts to undermine his work to keep us safe.

​If elected, you will represent only a small portion of Kentucky (since there are 38 senate districts throughout the state). What would you say to those voters who reside in other districts of the state about how your policy issues will help improve their lives?

It’s simple: the policies I will be fighting for aren’t unique to District 23. Any improvement to public education will be felt across Kentucky. Any improvement to the pension system will be felt far and wide, and improving access to affordable healthcare is critical to all Kentuckians. In addition, as an Army veteran I will be focused on issues facing active duty personnel and veterans.

Please add any other important information that voters should know about you and your goals as a prospective representative of the people.

We need to re-focus on empathy. Compassion and empathy are traits that will drive everything I do in Frankfort, and I’ll fight as hard as I can to improve the lives of all Kentuckians because I truly care about them.

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Getting in touch with Ryan Olexia’s campaign