The Murray State News interviewed District 5 Kentucky Rep. Mary Beth Imes and Democratic candidate Lauren Hines to inquire about each candidate’s positions on the issues facing Kentucky students.
Imes is the former funeral director for Imes Funeral Home in Murray. She has served as the Republican District 5 Representative in the Kentucky State Legislator since 2021.
Imes provided her answers via email.
Q: What are some things people should know about you and your campaign for district representative?
Imes: I am the only candidate in this race who has the life experience of a wife, mother, grandmother, successful small business owner and four years experience serving the people of District 5. As a member of the majority party, while I am independent in my views and actions, I have earned the respect of my party’s leadership and can advance legislation that benefits the people I am honored to serve.
I am running for re-election for State Representative to protect our Kentucky way of life and make certain that every Kentuckian, regardless of their zip code, has the opportunity to meet or exceed their goals in life. I believe the government should continue to look for opportunities to remove barriers to job growth, continue to find ways to reduce spending and cut taxes, and reduce or eliminate government regulations that impair individual’s opportunities to exercise their entrepreneurial skills to become the very best they can be.
Q: What do you have to offer for voters here at the University and in Murray?
Imes: My record of standing up for and speaking out on behalf of Murray State is clear and in the record. I have been a tireless advocate for Murray in the General Assembly, including my personal efforts to champion legislation to bring a doctoral program in veterinary medicine to the college along with more than $40 million to fund its development. We have also reaffirmed bonding potential for Murray to invest an additional $100 million for infrastructure, including housing on the campus.
Q: As student debt becomes an increasing concern for students across the country, what policies, if any, would you support to manage college tuition prices and student debt in Kentucky?
Imes: I have engaged in many conversations with Dr. (Bob) Jackson about the importance of keeping tuition affordable and ensuring that all young people have an opportunity to obtain a degree at Murray. Currently, Murray has the second lowest cost of securing a baccalaureate degree of any state university and saw its enrollment increase by 5% in 2024, reaching over 10,000 students, the highest enrollment since 2016.
I have supported improvements to the KEES program, seeking to make certain that all the lottery proceeds are spent in the manner most appropriate to maximize student benefits from those proceeds and helping Kentucky students buy down their tuition. It is important to remember that the vast majority of student loan programs are a function of the federal government and changes to those programs are beyond the scope or authority of the General Assembly.
Q: What are your thoughts on the wave of campus protests that have appeared across the country, and do you think student protests and demonstrations have a place on campus?
Imes: Peaceful protests on public property are protected under the freedom of speech clause of the United States Constitution and I am sworn to uphold that document and will continue to do so. Let me be very clear, peaceful is a term that, like “ugly,” is in the eye of the observer. But from my perspective, any protests that destroy public property, threaten the safety of others, or causes a stoppage of traffic, or the ability of the government to operate public services, exceeds our individual right to free speech and must be contained within a prescribed area.
An open and free exchange of ideas, despite how abhorrent we may find the message or the messenger, must not be marginalized, lest we become a society where a very select group of individuals determine what we see and hear.
Q: During the 2024 legislative session a number of bills were introduced attempting to regulate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies within Kentucky universities. What is your opinion on diversity policies in Kentucky universities, and do you feel the state government should be regulating them?
Imes: My Christian faith teaches me that all people are created equal in the eyes of God and must be treated with the same dignity and respect. I am opposed to the government mandating through regulation or law the treatment, advancement or persecution of any individual or group of individuals based on their class, race or religion.
I would oppose the legislature mandating or prohibiting a university from teaching or promoting any particular theory or program on campus. College campuses must be the incubators of all ideas and if students have an interest in studying concepts or theories and affirm that interest by signing up for classes provided through their tuition, I would not oppose those programs.
As for employment, and respect for all students, I believe there is no room for discrimination and those who violate the rights of either students or professionals on the campus should be removed.
Q: What are other pieces of legislation or issues that you believe will affect college students in Kentucky? What are your positions on these?
Imes: While the General Assembly has addressed legislation allowing a school of veterinary medicine at Murray, we must now provide legislative guidance to provide for the facility and curriculum, and I have introduced legislation to make that possible and will be a strong advocate for that measure.
My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to reduce the unfunded liabilities of the public pension programs, affecting the faculty and staff at Murray as I will continue to advocate for increasing state allocations to the programs to reduce the burden on the university and provide incentives for recruitment of the best and brightest to educate our young people.
I will continue to maintain an open door policy for Murray State leadership and advocates in Frankfort, I am proud that university staff have been complimentary in media posts related to the strength of their relationships with our western Kentucky legislative delegation.
