John Whipple

John Whipple was born in Corona, California. Whipple served in the United States Army from 1980 to 2003. He earned an associate degree in technical instruction from the Community College of the Air Force and a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College. Whipple also attended the Defense Language Institute. He earned a master's degree in education leadership from the University of Cincinnati in 2010.[1]

Whipple's career experience includes working in public education as a teacher and in school administration. He has served as a board member with the Kentucky Education Association and has volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children.[1]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our Kentucky Common Schools are the heart and soul of Kentucky’s future. A robust public education system is vital to the growth of Kentucky’s economy and our cultural development. We need stronger funding, a modern school calendar and recognition of the fact that we must nurture and support our teaching cadre.I believe in Kentucky labor, on farms and in factories. Our men and women work hard and deserve the respect and security of a fair wage that allows them to build families and plan for their futures. We must strengthen the laws which protect the health and safety of Kentucky workers so that if they are injured or get sick on the job they are adequately compensated for their loss until they can work again. Jobs need to be protected by due process and collective bargaining rights. We need to acknowledge the fact that Kentucky labor is the key to keeping our farms and factories productive.No one should be afraid, or live in fear, of being different. Everyone has worth and deserves respect. We need to write laws which foster and promote equity and not segregate and isolate people. We need to understand that what matters most is taking care of our neighbors and just being kind.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The main areas of concern for the 10th district are protecting and building our public schools, promoting our farming and industrial growth, the health and safety of the public and respect for all. We need to protect our children, our lands and our jobs.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

At this time in the 2026 election cycle endorsements have not yet been made. In previous campaigns I have been endorsed by several different groups of organizations in a wide variety of interests.

Labor:

Kentucky United Auto Workers Community Action Program

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 40

Greater Louisville Central Labor Council

Teamsters Local 89 and 783

Kentucky AFL-CIO

Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVAC Techs Local 49

Education:

Better Schools Kentucky

Kentucky Educators Political Action Committee

Health:

Mental Health Now

Planned Parenthood Alliance of Kentucky

Reproductive Rights for Kentucky

Veterans:

Vote Vets

John Whipple did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I retired from the US Army in 2004 after 23 years of active duty. I served as an Infantryman in Germany and the Army’s ceremonial unit “The Old Guard”. Over the years I attended the Defense Department’s language school and learned German, Russian, and Serbo-Croatian. As a linguist I served as platoon leader in the 3rd ID, a crew chief in EH-60 helicopters in Germany and Bosnia and as a Team Sergeant in a Special Operations Team-A with the 10th Special Forces Group.

I began my new life in 2004 as a proud public-school teacher in Breckinridge County, KY teaching 8th grade Social Studies. I am the president of the Breckinridge County Education Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Education Association.

My wife and I have only been married for 38 years and look forward to the next 38! We have two grown sons and three wonderful grandchildren.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our Kentucky Common Schools are the heart and soul of Kentucky’s future. A robust public education system is vital to the growth of Kentucky’s economy and our cultural development. We need stronger funding, a modern school calendar and recognition of the fact that we must nurture and support our teaching cadre.I believe in Kentucky labor, on farms and in factories. Our men and women work hard and deserve the respect and security of a fair wage that allows them to build families and plan for their futures. We must strengthen the laws which protect the health and safety of Kentucky workers so that if they are injured or get sick on the job they are adequately compensated for their loss until they can work again. Jobs need to be protected by due process and collective bargaining rights. We need to acknowledge the fact that Kentucky labor is the key to keeping our farms and factories productive.No one should be afraid, or live in fear, of being different. Everyone has worth and deserves respect. We need to write laws which foster and promote equity and not segregate and isolate people. We need to understand that what matters most is taking care of our neighbors and just being kind.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The main areas of concern for the 10th district are protecting and building our public schools, promoting our farming and industrial growth, the health and safety of the public and respect for all. We need to protect our children, our lands and our jobs.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a progressive Independent candidate tired of watching Republicans and Democrats fight each other, instead of fighting for the people. I am a retired Veteran, a public school teacher and a proud Kentuckian by choice. I support local public schools, workers rights and the right for people to make their own decisions. Too many decisions are made by reacting to whatever crisis is occurring now. It is time for Frankfort to make long range plans and investments which will secure a prosperous future, free of ignorance and turmoil. The state of Kentucky is rich in resources and people. We need to wisely invest in ourselves and our state in order to secure a better future for our grandchildren's children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The purpose of government is found in the Preamble to the Constitution. Every decision should be based on that.Every election should be about the people's choice. Not the party's choice.We need to focus decisions on what is best for the future, and not keep making the same old mistakes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The easy answer: I support public education, workers rights, child protection services, voters rights, and the Constitution of our democratic republic.

Everything comes down to individual rights. I don't just mean the easy ones, those outlined in the Bill of Rights. I am concerned about the more abstract rights, many of which we take for granted, but are under constant attack in many subtle ways. I believe that if we protect the rights of the individual our society grows and prospers.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official must always keep in mind that he or she is the servant of the people and that your own personal beliefs must be kept second to that fact. If you can't put your party, or even your religion behind your duty to the people you're in the wrong job. I am not saying that your core personal beliefs are not important, not at all. But there are many issues today, such as casino gambling or the decriminalization of marijuana which cause a great deal of controversy. Any vote on such an issue must be made with the best interests of the people in mind.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have been successful in two diverse careers, serving my nation and my community. I am not out to reshape the social structure. I simply want to concentrate on the basics. Safe roads, healthy people, good paying jobs, challenging schools, and communities where folks can feel safe.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to help bring a more non-partisan legislative approach to our democratic republic.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I grew up just outside Detroit, and remember the riots of 1967. I was only six, but I can remember how scared my parents were. They were so afraid that the violence would spread to our area. My Dad was a fireman and a fireman was killed during the riots. That affected him deeply.

I've grown up with that memory, it has stuck with me. I look at the riots now as a leadership failure. A failure of the men and women who were our leaders then to listen and to act. They failed to see the conditions that their brothers lived in and how their own actions (and failure to act) were only making those conditions worse.

A leader must accept responsibility for their actions. And a good leader takes action BEFORE the riot occurs.

What is your favorite book? Why?

It is called "Night Watch" by Terry Pratchett. In it the main character makes diffuclt decisions based on his own personal beliefs of right and wrong. The problem is that his decisions may result in never seeing his family again.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

I think that it is important for each body to remember its place. The legislature writes the laws and the executive branch administers them.

When a candidate for governor (or president) promises, "When I am elected I will do this" I begin to lose respect for him. It is not the governor's (or the president's) job to establish health care, immigration, education or any other kind of policy. That's the legislative branches job. They write the laws, they write the policies. The governor then carries it out.

The office of governor in Kentucky is one of the weakest in the nation. The governor has the power to veto, but it can be overturned by a simple majority. This makes it even more important that we elect strong representatives who are able to pass decent legislation.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I am an Independent candidate and I deeply wish that we could focus on building relationships with other legislators from across the Commonwealth, rather than rely on our party to push legislation through.

Kentucky is a large, diverse state. I don't mean simply diverse race-wise. The issue of our urban/rural populations cause a great deal of concern on how schools, roads and hospitals are funded. Our Appalachian region also presents significant challenges.

In order to legislate for the good of the people a legislator must have a strong working relationship with members from other regions in Kentucky. That way we can address the concerns of ALL Kentuckians. Not just those in our region, or who vote for our party.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

My experience and background would best be suited in two areas, Education and Veterans Affairs.

I have been a public school teacher for 15 years. I've served as both an administrator and a classroom teacher. I've served on our Site Based Decision Making Council as well as several councils and committees at the Kentucky Department of Education. Currently I am a member of the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Education Association.

I am also a retired Army Veteran with a large number of strong assignments and world wide deployments. I served the Old Guard, in Washington DC. I was a paratrooper with the 10th Special Forces Group. I served as a German linguist patrolling the old East German border. I served as a Serbo-Croatian linguist flying Electronic Reconnaissance missions in Bosnia. My final tour was as a Russian interpreter on Treaty Verification missions in Russia and other former Warsaw Pact nations. I have been retired 17 years and I understand the challenges a Veteran faces when he or she retires from the military and how difficult it is to start a new life.