Charles Alan Carrender is not your run-of-the-mill candidate for judge-executive. The Science Hill farmer, who calls himself a moderate conservative independent, is aware that some of the planks in his platform are innovative, even unusual.

Unlike most candidates, he candidly admits his chances of winning are slim. He is aware an independent candidate has never been elected in heavily Republican Pulaski County.

“Independent is what you call progress, doing things differently,” Carrender said. “Old-fashioned ways of doing business are not progressive. You fall into the same trap.”

By political label, Carrender is an independent. In personal life, he is independent.

“I live by myself. I take care of myself. I am a Christian. I go to three different (Baptist) churches. If you try to drag up a scandal you’ll be bored to death,” Carrender said. “I probably won’t get elected, but I’m going to do it (run for judge-executive) anyway.”

Carrender ran unsuccessfully for judge-executive in 2010.

Then, there is his full beard and long hair. “I know it may turn some voters off, but I’m not willing to cut it. I’ve had it since 1986. Because I have long hair and a beard people pay attention to that instead of what I say,” he said.

Carrender believes in diversity. “Have we ever had a black county judge?” he asked, knowing the answer is no. If Carrender is elected, he will ask an African-American to be deputy judge-executive, he indicated.

As a new source of revenue, Carrender believes the county should be wet, like Somerset and Burnside. He said he plans to start a petition for a local-option election even if he isn’t elected.

“If the county had revenue from alcohol it could hire a full-time or part-time building inspector, Carrender said. He suggested people in the county need and want a building inspector.

Carrender said he has studied the county government’s budget and is convinced there is a lot of waste.

Although it’s not part of county government, the Pulaski County School District could operate more efficiently, Carrender said.

“The county school board should work with the money they have, not raise taxes,” he said.

He suggested cutting programs and mentioned the Gifted and Talented Program.

“I was in the Gifted and Talented Program when I was in high school, and it’s a waste of money.”