Moore Enters Race for Open Congressional Seat

What’s expected to be a crowded race to replace Congressman Geoff Davis now has its first official candidate.Republican Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore filed his paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office today, the first candidate to do so. Two other Republicans, Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie and State Representative Alecia Webb-Edgington are also expected to file to run.While each candidate believes in a better managed government when it comes to fiscal issues, Moore says his business experience sets him apart.“What’ll differentiate me in this race is the fact that I have 35 years of business experience," says Moore. "Even while I’ve been judge-executive, I’ve stayed in the building supply industry. And it’s been extremely hard hit in this economy. I took that experience to county government and people know theBooneCountystory. I mean we’ve led this state in just about every category.”Moore points to the privatization of the county's janitorial services as a high point of his record. The move saved about $300,000 a year and Moore says Washington needs to look at the same type of moves for it's budget.“Those are things that government needs to do," he says. "Those are the kinds of things I learned in the private sector. If your revenues go down, you better stop spending. You better spend less than you’re taking in.”Critics of Moore say he increased taxes by approving a tax for the sewer district in Boone County. But Moore says the county actually lowered taxes under his watch. He calls the sewer districts issue a "fee" much like a phone bill.No Democrat has publicly committed to running for the open Congressional seat. The seat became open when current Congressman Geoff Davis unexpectedly announced his retirement last December.