Fighting for Kentucky

from cn|2 Pure Politics
Wil Schroder II, an assistant Campbell County commonwealth’s attorney, on Tuesday became the first to announce a run for the 24th District State Senate seat which covers Campbell, Pendleton and Bracken Counties.

The seat is currently held by President Pro-Tem Katie Stine, who announced last month that she will not seek re-election in 2014.

The 31 year-old Schroder, who is the son of retired Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Wil Schroder, confirmed to Pure Politics on Tuesday that he will run as a Republican for the seat that Stine has held since 1999. This will be Schroder’s first run for political office.

“My father taught me that one person can make a difference in his or her community,” the younger Schroder said. “He always maintained that there were things worth fighting for, and that you shouldn’t step away just because the path will be difficult.”

Schroder, who is a felony prosecutor, said among his main priorities would be to address Kentucky’s drug problem, starting with the scourge of heroin that has plagued Northern Kentucky in the last few years.

“The majority of my cases are heroin related or if they’re not heroin cases, they’re related in the sense they’re crimes committed due to the heroin epidemic,” he said. “I’d like to get more of the resources we need here in Northern Kentucky to combat that problem.”

Schroder said he also wants to see Kentucky be a more business friendly state through tax reform.

“I think we need fundamental tax reform to help create an environment where these businesses can thrive rather than compete with states like Ohio and neighboring states,” he said.

Schroder said his job experience will also help him work with other legislators to accomplish other needed reforms.

“I’m also going to be able to work with other Senators and accomplish getting some of the reform done that we needed, whatever it be, tax code reform or pension reform.”

Before his own campaign for state Senate, Schroder helped conservative candidates on the state and federal level, including Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Congressman Thomas Massie, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and State Sen. Chris McDaniel in the neighboring 23rd District in Kenton County.

Schroder also currently serves on the 4th Congressional District Executive Committee for the Republican Party of Kentucky..