Kentucky sheriff candidates make headlines for being nice to each other

While many races in the 2014 elections are — as usual — marked by vicious attack ads, one local contest is making the news for how nice the candidates are being. In the sheriff's race in Campbell County, Kentucky, Democrat Scott Hildebrand and Republican Mike Jansen met to agree to run a respectful campaign.

"The citizens deserve a clean race," said Jansen of the decision. "This office is bigger than us."

Hildebrand agreed: "Both of us want what's best for the county. If he gets it, I will support him. If I get it, I'm sure he will support me. That's what's important."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Their fellow Kentuckians do not necessarily share the sheriff candidates' sense of public service: The contentious Senate race between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes, has featured numerous allegations of deception and corruption.