Boone County, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2026) – With the candidate filing period for the 2026 Boone County Judge/Executive election officially closed, Boone County Commissioner Chet Hand is proud to stand as the Conservative Republican candidate in the race. Incumbent Gary Moore, who has held the position since 1999—a staggering 27 years to date—has filed for yet another re-election, trying to extend his tenure to 32 years as a career politician. Commissioner Hand believes this length in office is a liability rather than a benefit, and it's time for fresh leadership to guide Boone County into the future.
"Gary Moore has been in this position for far too long—27 years and counting," said Commissioner Hand. "While we appreciate past contributions, the same leadership that may have worked for the last 30 years simply won't address the dynamic changes and challenges Boone County faces in the next 30 years. Our county is growing rapidly, and we need innovative ideas, careful planning, transparency in government, and a commitment to smaller and more responsive local government to ensure prosperity for all residents."
As a current Boone County Commissioner elected in 2022, Chet Hand has a proven track record of delivering results for the community:
- Lowering Taxes: Consistently voted for the lowest possible property taxes every year in office, providing relief to families, seniors, and low-income residents while advocating for the eventual elimination of burdensome property taxes.
- Strengthening Partnerships: Built and maintained strong collaborations with our Northern Kentucky legislative delegation, neighboring counties, and regional partners to advance economic development, fiscal and social policies, and critical infrastructure projects.
- Reforming Local Politics: Led a successful effort to reclaim and revitalize the Boone County Republican Party in 2021, serving as Chairman and reforming it into one of the most active GOP organizations in Kentucky with 192 precinct officers—empowering Republican voters and inspiring similar reforms statewide.
- Advocating for Core Values: As a dedicated public servant, Hand has pushed back against the status quo and “good ol’ boy” cronyism prevalent in our local government, confronting key issues head-on to right-size county operations, protect individual property rights, support family and parental rights, defend constitutional rights, and promote strategic growth while preserving resident quality of life.
With a diverse career background as a former fire captain and medic in Alaska, where he led special rescue operations and supervised teams in extreme conditions, to private sector executive experience in corporate risk, Chet Hand has exactly the experience, character, and professionalism we need. Since moving to Boone County in 2016, he has built a life here as a husband, father of seven children, small farmer in Walton, and corporate director of business resiliency for a global retailer. Holding an MBA from Thomas More University, Hand is committed to applying his strategic mindset to foster economic opportunity, limited and more responsive local government, and effective long-term community planning.
"Boone County deserves a leader who listens to residents, fights for transparency, and balances current needs with a vision for the future," Hand added. "I'm running to bring fresh ideas and energy to the Judge/Executive office, ensuring our county remains a great place for families, businesses, and future generations."
For more information on Chet Hand's campaign, visit www.chet4boone.com or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chet4boonecounty.