In just 5 days, a "Special Election" will determine who Butler and Warren Counties will have representing them in Frankfort.

Longtime lawyer J. Marshall Hughes says he's determined to turn help the state's fortunes around, but he won't stand for higher taxes.

"First thing I don't want to do is raise taxes. I hope that there's a way around raising taxes at all," says the Republican nominee.

He doesn't believe the solution comes from a craps table either.

"I'm against gambling. I don't' think that's the way to do it," Marshall says.

Rather, he says the best way to help our economy is through education.

But says there is a lot of wasteful spending he wants to cut out.

"I think we need to do away with portfolios. I think KERA needs to be revised. We're having testing in our schools now that take 3-4 weeks. Its very expensive," notes Hughes.

Hughes says the excess money could be put back into the education structure to make up for all the recent cuts.

Butler County is ripe with coal, and Hughes wants to put "coal to gas" plants there.

"We need to get mining in Butler County. This would give us severance dollars. This would open a lot of avenues for money for Butler County," he adds.

In addition, it could help re-establish the county after losing several factories over the past 5 years... another issue Hughes says can be prevented with lower taxes.

"I think you have to keep the taxes low so the factories will want to stay here," says Hughes.

Veterans' rights are also on Hughes' plate.

He wants to make sure medicare is taking care of them and that the state is providing for active duty vets.

Friday night on WBKO at 6, we'll profile Democratic candidate Mike Reynolds.