“I don’t have anything against Jean Schmidt, but I think there’s a movement to elect more conservative politicians to Washington,” Kilburn said. I have a burning desire to make sure this country won’t go broke.”
Coming under fire for remarks he made earlier this year about not wanting to accept “filthy money” from the Obama administration when Warren County was offered federal stimulus funds, Kilburn said he hasn’t changed his approach.
“My call has always been for more conservative spending and tax cuts. I think some Republicans have lost their way. I’m not just against the approach of the Obama administration. I was critical of the Bush administration and its spending,” he said.
He said there has been no outrage shown by conservatives on the approach by Democrats or Republicans and spending in Washington, D.C.
“Social Security is nearly broke and there has been no effort to fix this problem. They’re out there spending money on frivolous programs that make no sense. Jean has been a part of that,” Kilburn said.
Kilburn, 55, first elected to office in 1982 as the youngest commissioner in the county’s history at age 27, lives in Salem Twp. on a farm.
He has used his conservative roots and his outspoken comments on conservative spending to get elected. Several times he has been challenged by other Republican candidates, but has won by receiving 60 percent or more of the votes each time.
“People want politicians who are going to stick to their values. There’s no one more fiscally responsible than Mike Kilburn. I don’t like to spend my money and I won’t spend others,” he said.
Kilburn will officially announce his candidacy Saturday, Oct. 17 during a Republican Party Century Club breakfast in Deerfield Twp.
“It’s always difficult to beat an incumbent and she’s very well liked,” said Warren County Republican Party Chairman Tom Grossmann, but would not comment further on his reaction.
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