2026 Election: Candidate Responses on Innovative Land Use & Setbacks
These questions were submitted to each candidate listed below
Thank you for offering to serve Mason County as a _________. As a voter, I’d appreciate your thoughts on a topic that I believe is critical to our community’s future.
Mason County has lost tobacco, dairy, and major industrial employers over the past four decades. Innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — represent some of the most realistic opportunities to rebuild our economic foundation and restore the tax base that supports our public services, history, and quality of life.
I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions:
1. Do you support innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations?
2. Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks — and what evidence or reasoning guides your position?
I will share each candidate’s responses received by 5 PM EDT on Sept 14, 2026, with fellow voters. Your response will be quoted accurately as submitted. Candidates who do not respond by that deadline will be noted as having chosen not to reply.
Thank you for your time and your willingness to serve.
Here are their responses
Mason County Judge/Executive
| Candidate | Response | |
|---|---|---|
| D | Owen Mc Neil | Good Morning Bill Thanks for reaching out my friend. I believe my actions have shown where I stand when it comes to new industry, businesses and our economic base with the recruitment and attraction of PPI, GJPepsi, Good360 etc and the retention of Mitsubishi/Melco, etc, and expansions of Stober, Spurlock, International Paper and others. Additionally, my focus and support of Mason County’s small businesses and entrepreneurs I believe has been self-evident. While your correct, we have lost big tobacco production, Browning’s and Jockey and others, our area has gained many as well such as Stober, Mitsubishi/Melco, PPI and others. I believe it’s indicative of the constant urban / rural battle that affects not only Kentucky, but evident across the US. Like anything in life, without constant evolution and forward thinking, stable leadership, communities can suffer. I’m a firm believer that communities must continue to grow and innovate or they’ll be left behind. That’s why I’ve worked incredibly hard in bringing new opportunities and projects to Mason County. While we have not attracted a Toyota to Georgetown or Blue Oval Project, we have seen a more than average economic project activity that has empowered Maysville and Mason County to reascend back to the economic hub of a 20 county region in Northeastern Kentucky. This activity is even more evident when compared to our contiguous counties. Even with the PPI’s, Pepsi’s, Spurlock Expansions, and more, we still lose almost 1%(est) of population annually while those counties around us experience double digit population loss. That’s why our teams are working every day to find new employment and economic opportunities for Maysville, Mason County and Northeastern Kentucky. I don’t know if they are innovative land uses, but I know they are needed. We are currently recruiting a transformational and generational project to Mason County that will bring many benefits to our area. The citizens I speak with are constantly wanting opportunities to retain our graduates and youth, this will. They want community partners that will bolster our current employers like EKPC / Spurlock by investing and paying 100% for all upgrades, generation, transmission and distribution through our national best practice of EKPC’s large load tariff policy, guaranteeing no costs are placed on residential or current cooperative owners bills. They want community partners that will finally repair and restore an aging water and wastewater infrastructure instead of water line breaks. Finally, they want high paying, career and family sustaining jobs and opportunities right here in Mason County, all while lowering the tax burden on current citizens. That’s what this data center project represents. Leadership statewide sees it, from Gov Beshear to Senate President Robert Stivers while leadership of the state’s technology task force compliment our team on their forward thought. As closer to libertarian than anything else, my thought process has always been driven more with the premise of letting a land owner do what they want with their own property. They’ve made the payments and they own it. I believe that’s evident in our Joint Planning Commission’s thinking behind our solar regulations. The unpaid, volunteer, citizen members of the JPC worked incredibly hard to craft rules and regulations for all land uses, including solar. I applaud and will support any landowner of Mason County to do with their acreage what they want provided they adhere to our regulations. If they want to option their acreage, utilize the income to support their families, I support it as that is my role. I believe that if solar if viable in Kentucky and Mason County, then the first project should adhere to what those established regs are as I believe a lot of thought was put into them. Additionally, while setbacks for solar may be larger than other land uses in Mason County, I believe they are in line with other solar ordinances across Kentucky. Ultimately, it’s up to each landowner to make a decision on solar as I’ve seen no viable projects in Mason County. I believe the guidelines that the JPC put in place do a good job of advocating for the person who actually paid for the ground while protecting their neighbors. Finally, I’ll say that our data center project has publicly stated they have no plans for local solar to power their operations as they’ll rely on our local partners with EKPC and Spurlock, while literally paying for their expansion and the bolstering of our ‘regional grid’. It is my understanding that in Mason County, while some landowners are still receiving option revenue to support their families, no project has contracted to sell their energy produced. Given the potential to employ 100s of locals with high paying full time jobs and 1000s of long term construction jobs, I believe partnering with a global top ten entity that will increase our median family incomes and support our community with infrastructure investment and lowered taxes is paramount to winning the ‘community lottery’. My thoughts on that have not changed a bit. I hope you guys are doing well. Owen McNeill |
| R | Eric Bach | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
Mason County Commissioner Board
| Seat | Candidate | Response | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | D | Rebecca Cartmell | !. I support innovative uses for Mason County’s land, especially those that bring jobs, affordable housing and tourism to our region. Examples include transforming brownfields into housing, investing in agritourism, preserving historic properties for public use and developing parks and trails. Just last week I participated in a forum with the Energy and Environment Cabinet and the University of Kentucky in Maysville to discuss what Mason Countians would like to see in our community. I am open to many ideas for revitalizing our community and I don’t believe a data center – or any other single project – is Mason County’s only path forward. 2. Setbacks are put in place to protect communities from the potential negative effects of large scale development, including fire risk, noise pollution and other health and safety concerns. A hyperscale data center is unique and a new kind of project unlike other industrial development initiatives and has the potential for significant impact on our county. It makes sense for the setbacks to be proportionally significant. My reasoning is grounded in firsthand experience visiting multiple data centers over the past year and real life accounts shared by people living near these facilities. I trust Mason Countians when they tell me what they need to feel safe. |
| R | Glenny Riggs Jr. | Glenny Riggs Jr. · This is my response to the questions. 1. If it’s your land, you should get to use it how ever you see fit to provide for your family. 2. We have people in place to make informed decisions that help and benefit the most amount of people as possible. We should honor those decisions and measures they have decided on. Sorry for the late response. | |
| District 2 | D | Henry C Boone | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
| R | Jason C. Sheppeck | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. | |
| District 3 | R | William Lawrence | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
Maysville Mayor
| Candidate | Response | |
|---|---|---|
| D | Debra L. Cotterill | Responses to questions requested by Bill Marshall 1. Do you support innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations? Quality Jobs with benefits are a top priority for Maysville’s future. University of Louisville Kentucky State Data Center reports Maysville’s average 2025 household income is estimated at $59,710 while the state average is approximately $87,013. The median household income, a more exact reflection of residents’ actual income, is only $39,013. But most concerning is the key economic trend of stagnant growth in Maysville while the state and nation continue to grow leaving us farther behind. For Maysville to move forward, household income must reach a level to support family needs including housing, food, medical services, utilities, transportation, and quality of life needs, attracting a diverse community of professional entities, businesses, and industries is required. Data centers and utilities could be important pieces of the economic puzzle to success. The responsibility of the city is to ensure that no entity that joins our business community creates a services or tax burden for our residents and work force. Even businesses not located within city limits still have an impact and the city works diligently with all projects to address identified and potential issues that might occur. The vitality and future of Maysville is dependent upon residents being able to afford to live here. Thus, I do support innovative land uses if each opportunity is fully vetted, goes through the correct processes or procedures and complies with all laws, regulations, and requirements. 2. Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks — and what evidence or reasoning guides your position? Comprehensive plans help communities ensure their leadership focuses on the needs and desires of all their citizens. I have profound respect for those serving on the Planning and Zoning commission and other city boards for their due diligence and commitment to making the best decisions for the present and future of Maysville. The comprehensive plan is a working document that should be under constant review while considering the current economic environment along with consumer and community needs. Annual reviews are important to identify and find workable solutions to emerging issues that might include setback amounts, appropriate screens, laws, or regulations that could apply to everything from qualified manufactured homes to large scale facilities. I have personally seen screening and natural barriers to industrial sites including large scale utilities and believe that they were aesthetically pleasing and served their purpose. Therefore, I am supportive of revisiting setbacks and considering options for addressing citizen concerns that add beauty and value to those properties without taking additional farmland for setbacks. Respectfully, Debra |
| R | Robert Boone | Good afternoon, Bill. Please see my responses below: Question: Do you support innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations? Answer: “Bill, thank you for giving me this platform. Before I can answer the first question you posed to me, I first want to say that words, phrases, and rhetoric matter. I take issue with the phrase in your question, “innovative land uses.” A data center, solar facility, or wind turbine operation are not innovative land uses. Rather, all three of these examples, which you cite as innovative land uses, are simply an exchange of land for a permanent impact. AI, solar, and wind are intrinsically innovative, but they are not innovative land uses any more than a 200,000 square foot Costco is an innovative land use. They are all, simply, a permanent change and exchange of the landscape. The rhetoric behind “solar farming” is a good example in illustrating my point. The term, “solar farm,” is problematic. Even more problematic is the rhetoric, “farming the sun,” which was used frequently by solar farm advocates. Solar installations are not farms. Harnessing the sun’s energy is not “farming” any more than taking a farm and replacing it with a grocery store is farming. When I go to the grocery store to select produce, I do not say that “I am going farming for produce.” That would be a ridiculous thing for me to say. Conversations about wind, solar, and now AI data centers, are framed in such a way to gain support through manipulative language. This reframing abandons the very definitions that allow us to discuss them for what they are: an exchange of land for some permanent impact. So, either those perpetuating rhetoric around “innovative land uses” think that those who do not agree are not sophisticated enough to understand their innovative insights, or they themselves really believe that projects like AI, solar, or wind are actually innovative uses of land. I encourage you and others to stop using bad rhetorical language that either assumes that you have some superiority over the people who do not believe it or stop using bad rhetorical language that you, yourself, may believe. Now that we have that out of the way, if the question posed to me was instead asked, “Do you believe that AI data centers, solar facilities, or wind turbine operations deserve to make permanent changes to land?” then that is a question I can answer. But first, I need to share the context for why my answer is what it is. I am a pragmatist in many respects. One of the best methods to gain future insight is to understand past performance. My insight into past performance is as follows: -Years ago, I was present during many of the public conversations regarding wind turbines. Although the public solar conversations occurred during a time when we were living out of town, I followed those conversations, nonetheless. I have been and continue to be present during the public meetings about the data center project. I am thankful that our community did not adopt solar or wind years ago because I think doing so would have permanently changed the land for very little local return. The wind and solar advocates in our county have largely transitioned to a pro-data center contingency. That personal observation leads me to think that some people are simply hell-bent on accepting any shiny thing coming down the pike with little consideration for a generational return on investment for our community. Given the current, sorry state of wind and solar projects across our country, I am thankful that our community did not follow (or rather fall for) such short-sighted rhetoric and hype. If anything, the primacy of the pro-solar and pro-wind coalitions did nothing but damage the current data center discourse, if there is any such dialogue to be had. -At present, I have a nearly 20-year career in workforce development, with five of those years dedicated to national projects. During those 20 years of service, I can point to about a dozen “transformational projects” that were hailed by elected officials and others as positively changing the trajectory of entire regions of our great country. In most cases, these projects have overpromised and underdelivered. In several cases, these projects did real damage to communities before shutting down. As the only candidate on the ballot with this level of experience, please forgive me for not being a “hype man” for this data center project. I cannot in good conscience, given my experience, hype a project that will likely, in a meaningful way, overpromise and underdeliver. More important than my own experiences, I have the privilege of representing the citizens of Maysville on the Maysville City Commission. I take that position very seriously. I could write at length about my own thoughts, but those thoughts do not matter as much as what my constituents think about this issue. I have opened my home to hear from citizens at least monthly; I have published multiple methods of contacting me, including my personal cell phone number; I have attended every public meeting regarding this data center project, and have been one of very few public officials or candidates to have done so. From what I can tell, at least 80% of my constituents are against this data center project. I am and want to grow even more toward being a voice for the community that I represent. To that end, I invite anyone to call me and discuss your thoughts regarding this project. You can reach me at 606-584-4842. I do not want to act only on what I think is best, but rather truly represent the majority of our community. After all, representing our community should be the primary focus of any elected or electioneering official. For another invitation, I encourage anyone who is in favor of this data center project, wind, or solar (as they were also outlined in these questions to elected officials) to publicly debate me on the topic. We can debate in person or virtually. My debate opponent can select the moderator and the locale. My assumption is that my debate opponent and I will likely agree on points and vastly disagree on others. I invite you to be creative with this offer. I will debate those viewed as data center experts, even those residing out of state, other candidates, or citizens. In closing, Bill, I want to offer you a clear and concise answer to your question. So, here it is: I am against the exchange of land for the permanent impact of this data center project. This answer is based on my past experience but is most importantly based on my current interpretation of the will of the people I represent and hope to represent as the next mayor of Maysville.” Question: Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks — and what evidence or reasoning guides your position? Answer: “Wind, solar, and data center facilities, based on fact finding and community dialogue, are inherently different from other cases of economic development. If the majority of our community supported, wind, solar, and data center facilities, then I would be inclined to at least maintain those setback requirements as a response to community due process procedures that, in theory, support those setback determinations as recommended by the Joint Planning Commission to the Maysville City Commission and Mason County Fiscal Court. To answer the second part of your question, the only evidence or reasoning I need for my viewpoint is the community feedback gathered from the due process that is in place for public dialogue and hearings that are enshrined as constitutional rights in our country. |
Maysville City Commission At-large
| Candidate | Response |
|---|---|
| Kirby Bennett | 1. Yes I’m for innovative land uses if done the right way. Give the people what they want, I’m not for the Data Center, there are way to many questions they won’t answer, what are they hiding? plus our utilities will go up. The research that I have done and heard about was around 200%!!! 2. If Maysville grows enough in the future, then I’m for an increase. If not maintain where we at. The majority of our young people go off to college and don’t come back home because there’s no jobs for them. We need to do whatever it takes to keep our young people home. The one experience that I have with imminent domain was my first house which originally belong to my grandmother, now instead of good memories growing up with my grand mother and my first house is a black topped parking lot. (the original image received)  |
| Ann Brammer | TThis candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
| David Cartmell | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
| David Irwin | This candidate has chosen not to respond. Before you vote, ask them directly where they stand on innovative land uses and setbacks in Mason County. If you get an answer? Send it to cwm@wozi.com before the Nov. General Election, and I’ll post it here so all voters can decide if it measures up. |
| Rick Lawrence | Do you support innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations? My perspective and future desires for my community are many. Growth is essential and both the economic and housing needs of our community. Those can come in many different forms. I would love to see Apprentice programs for the trades set up to encourage our students to pursue after graduation, particularly from the Magnet school program. The welding institute has proven that students can graduate, stay here and get a very valuable education, learn a trade and pursue dreams while making a very good living. Competing with other communities is a full-time job for growth, jobs and futures. As a former Economic Development Commissioner, I saw firsthand how many communities are competing for new development. Accompanying companies we attract bring many supportive opportunities. Suppliers, hotels, trade education, restaurants and administrative support. Increasing our tax base to provide community services will accompany new businesses. Our Fire, Police, EMS, Medical services can all continue to grow with improvement in tax base. There is no such premise of “stay the way we are”. There is no status quo in a community. If you are not growing, you are losing ground. Therefore, we must be at the forefront of competing for new opportunities. In the lead in recent years and today, technology will play a significant role. All companies are looking to increase productivity and reduce costs; computers play a dramatic role. With the loss of the tobacco industry and dairy farming we must concentrate on future opportunities. That can take many forms, warehousing, distribution, new crops, technology, off site management and online services. Any new industry, as in the past, must comply with multiple jurisdictional controls and regulations. Federal, State, Local administration and permitting is never ending. Always remember, we are in a never-ending competition to attract new business, retaining our workforce, improving living conditions, medical service and community protection. Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks — and what evidence or reasoning guides your position? I believe setbacks should be specific to individual technologies, location and overall business plans. Unless new data comes forth disproving ordinance requirements, they should remain as specified. However, that is subject to change with new technology, topography and State and Federal rules as they emerge. Where technology and legal standards change, we must embrace new opportunities to maximize land use and embrace new improvements in production and methods. At this time, I am unable to comment on specifics of Data Center issues due to pending litigation. |
| Tommy Marshall Jr. | Mr. Marshall I do understand why you have asked the question about innovative land use and tried to narrow it down to wind, solar, and data-but realistically, innovative land use is much broader than that, it includes everything from agricultural development, conservation strategies and community-based redevelopment. First, I want to make clear I have worked closely with farmers and landowners most of my life and have watched as they have ridden the wave of highs and lows-many times wondering how they would make the next payment when tobacco and dairy income were no longer viable options. I am 100% pro-land (proprietary rights) meaning I support the landowners who have chosen not to sell (it is their land) and I also respect those who have chosen to sell and reap the rewards of their hard work and investment. I am an opportunist, and I believe we have to seriously look at all opportunities to advance our area for both landowners and residents. That includes energy projects, agriculture, housing, recreation, and new industries-but it also means being honest about what each opportunity brings. I do not like smoke and mirrors when interested in being a part of our community step out from behind the curtain and so we can be clear of intentions, long term impacts, and who ultimately benefits. Our city and county have real needs that must be addressed-whether that’s economic development, infrastructure, housing, or preserving what makes our communities strong. The question is not just what projects are proposed, but how they fit into a larger plan. Innovative land use should work for the people who live here, respect the land itself, and contribute to a sustainable future rather than short-term gain. Question#2 I support fact-based setbacks and very interested in protecting our community and residents or our community. Thank you Tommy Marshall Jr Candidate for Maysville City Commissioner |
| Victor C. McKay | Good morning, Mr. Marshall. I updated my response to question one to address concerns about any possible increases in electric bills for our residents. Do you support innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations? I support responsible economic development, including innovative land uses such as utility-scale solar and data centers, as long as those projects follow the law and provide a clear benefit to Mason County. Any project of this scale must fully comply with all local, state, and federal regulations. We need to grow our tax base, create opportunities, and continue strengthening our local economy. At the same time, we must protect the rights of property owners and make sure infrastructure, environmental, and community impacts are addressed responsibly. I also believe we must protect our residents from unintended financial consequences. If a large-scale development creates the need for significant upgrades to our electrical infrastructure or places additional demands on the local power system, I want assurances that those costs are borne by the project and not passed along to existing residential and small-business customers through higher electric bills. I welcome responsible investment in Maysville-Mason County, but economic development should benefit the community, not create additional financial burdens for the people who already live and work here. With proper planning, accountability, and safeguards, I believe we can grow our economy while protecting property rights, our quality of life, and the interests of Mason County residents. Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks — and what evidence or reasoning guides your position? I sincerely appreciate the time and effort the commission has put into reviewing these setback requirements and their commitment to doing what they believe is best for our community. Members do not get the proper recognition they so often deserve and I can not thank them enough. That said, I believe setback requirements should not be so restrictive that they effectively prevent property owners from making lawful and productive use of their land. When setbacks exceed what is necessary to protect neighboring properties, public safety, and infrastructure, they can sometimes unnecessarily limit opportunities for landowners to benefit from projects such as wind, solar, and data development. At this point, I would be inclined to support reducing setbacks to a reasonable distance. My position is guided by the principle that regulations should balance community protections with private property rights. We should ensure projects are safe and compatible with surrounding land uses, but we should also avoid creating barriers that prevent responsible investment and limit economic opportunity for local property owners. |
| LaRon Washington | Thank you for your time and efforts. Here are my responses. Thank you for reaching out. The future of Maysville’s economy is our youth. If we want this city to grow and stay strong long term, we need to invest in young people now. They need opportunities, direction, and reasons to believe they can build a life right here at home. If we make those investments now, we avoid paying for missed opportunities later. My focus is on building a stronger future for Maysville. QUESTION: Do you support innovative land uses such as utility-scale solar and data centers as tools to rebuild Mason County’s economic base, provided they comply with all local, state, and federal regulations? ANSWER: I believe we should be open to opportunities that can create jobs, strengthen infrastructure, and help grow our local economy. Mason County cannot expect different results by repeating the same patterns that have led many young people to feel like they need to leave to succeed. That said, growth should never come at any cost. Every project should be reviewed carefully to make sure it fits the area, respects residents, and brings lasting value to the community. Public input and transparency matter. My focus is simple. If something is coming to Maysville or Mason County, it should leave us better than it found us and create real opportunity for our future. QUESTION: Current setback requirements for wind, solar, and data center facilities are significantly higher than any other land use in the zoning ordinance. Are you inclined to maintain, increase, or reduce those setbacks, and what evidence or reasoning guides your position? ANSWER: I don’t believe this should be answered with one blanket number. Different projects and locations bring different concerns. Nearby homes, traffic, noise, safety, property impact, and the surrounding area all need to be considered before making that decision. I would base my position on facts, expert guidance, and public input from the people directly affected. Residents deserve to be heard, and decisions should be made with common sense, not politics. My priority is protecting quality of life while also allowing responsible growth when it makes sense. We need to think about today’s concerns while also creating jobs and opportunities that help keep the next generation in Maysville. Vote Laron Washington for Maysville City Commissioner. Your voice matters, our youth matter, and Maysville’s future matters! |
Ky State Representative District 70
| Candidate | Response | |
|---|---|---|
| D | Charlotte Harris | Good Morning Bill! I certainly agree that we have lost major employers and need to find new industry/jobs for our region. Building solar and wind energy will add to the tax base but construction will be done by skilled labor brought in from elsewhere. I believe the same can be said regarding Data centers and very few permanent local jobs will be created. As you know I believe a person has the right to do as they please with the land they own, as long as it does not adversely affect their neighbor. I am strongly opposed to using eminent domain to take a farmers land for the benefit of Private industry. Planning and zoning decisions are made at the local level, and as State Representative, I would not be able to control that. Keep up the good work! Charlotte |
| R | Mike Fisher | Bill, I’m happy to respond to this survey. During the Primary, I chose not to answer a similar request because another group took my response and blasted it across Facebook in a way that clouded my position. I receive multiple survey requests every week, and some are clearly designed to highlight differences rather than inform voters. Even so, voters deserve honest answers. It’s fair to ask candidates where they stand. I’m sharing my responses below so everyone can see them directly from me. I support innovative land uses such as solar, data centers, river ports, power stations, and more, as long as they meet all local, state, and federal regulations. I do not believe this is a Data Center only question. Property owners deserve the freedom to use their land legally without government overreach. I strongly oppose eminent domain for these projects. I lived through an eminent domain case and I would not wish that experience on anyone. As for setbacks, I’m an engineer. I make decisions based on data, not assumptions. Before changing any setback rules, I want to see the facts behind why they were set. This issue is being handled locally now, but the legislature will likely revisit statewide standards in 2027 and I’ll rely on evidence and data when that time comes. Mike Fisher |
📢 A Direct Message to Candidates Who Have Not Yet Responded:
Mason County has lost $64 million in annual agricultural sales since 1974, nearly 2,500 jobs, and 7.6% of its population since 1990. That loss of rural income has forced farmers to plant 14,000 more acres of corn and soybeans than they did in 2000, on our county’s undulating land. As a result, our topsoil is washing away. Innovative land uses — such as utility-scale solar and data centers — represent some of the most realistic opportunities to rebuild our economic foundation, preserve our topsoil, and restore the tax base that supports our public services, history, and quality of life.
Yard signs and name recognition are not a platform. Your voters deserve to know where you stand not how many cakes you have purchased. It is not too late to do the right thing. I am still accepting responses at cwm@wozi.com and will post them on this page alongside the candidates who have already responded.
In the interest of full transparency, any response received after 5 PM on Sept 14th, 2026, will be clearly marked as submitted after all other candidates’ positions were already made public. Voters have a right to know that context.
I am not asking you for a perfect response. I am asking you to respect the people who may elect you. Submit your responses and let Mason County voters hear from you — even now.