Candidates respond to Herald-Leader endorsements and other thoughts on the election | Opinion

Candidate Responses

Daniel Cameron

I’m running for Governor to address the challenges facing our state. For too long, our people have suffered under legacy names that have led Kentucky and the nation for decades. Nationally, that name has been Biden. Here in Kentucky, that name has been Beshear.

Andy Beshear is just like Joe Biden. They both campaign as moderates but govern like liberal Democrats. Beshear shut down our schools, churches, and businesses, and hasn’t presented serious plans to address the learning loss, devastating crime, and economic pain left in the wake of his short-sighted decisions.

Andy’s trying to pull the wool over the eyes of voters, and so is the Herald-Leader. Listening to them, you would think the economy is doing well. But you know better.

Inflation is rocking your wallet, leaving you with less money in your pocket. There are 30,000 fewer people working today than the day Andy took office. There’s been a 12 percent drop in median household income, more than four times the national decline. Andy is indifferent to these problems. He vetoed income tax cuts at the peak of historic inflation. He refuses to support requiring able-bodied people on welfare to go to work.

We all know Beshear and Biden believe the same thing. That’s why Biden sent Andy $250,000 in campaign contributions.

This election is about taking our state in a different direction.

I’ve presented a positive agenda for where we can take our state. My Public Safety plan earned me the endorsement of the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police, which had previously supported Beshear in 2019. My Cameron Catch-Up Plan will get our kids caught up from historic learning loss and increase teacher pay. My Vision for Prosperity will eliminate the income tax and get our economy moving again.

I’ll also stand up to Joe Biden and crazy ideas coming out of Washington, D.C. that seek to destroy Kentucky’s coal industry in pursuit of green schemes, which would make electricity more expensive and unreliable.

Andy Beshear? He never will.

You can review my plans at CameronVisionKY.com.

During the final days of this campaign, I will be visiting 40 counties talking directly with voters about the issues facing them. I don’t need my ideas filtered through a liberal newspaper.

Together, we can turn the page on the failed ideas of the past and create a better and brighter future for every Kentuckian.

Russell Coleman

When it comes to how to deal with violent criminals, sex predators and drug traffickers, the Kentucky families I talk to are clear: Lock. Them. Up.

But in one of the most tone-deaf endorsements seen in recent years, this paper endorsed a radical state legislator who doesn’t have a Kentucky law license or any meaningful relationship with law enforcement.

The woke news media chose the most unqualified candidate to run for this office because they know I’m going to use my law license to lock up violent criminals and drug traffickers.

I’ve spent my career in law enforcement, carrying a badge and a gun. The Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors from our most urban to most rural communities have endorsed my campaign. They trust me to uphold the law and keep our communities safe on Day One.

My opponent has never even practiced law in our Commonwealth.

Facts matter. I have a proven record of working collaboratively to protect Kentucky families and our law enforcement. My opponent would put them at risk to advance a radical, liberal ideology more in line with President Biden’s agenda than your values. A prime example is while I was prosecuting those who threatened our families, downtown businesses, and police in 2020, my opponent was in the legislature trying to weaken the “rioting” statute.

I’m running for Attorney General to protect your family—not to advance some ideological agenda. I would be honored to have your vote.

Kim Reeder

I’m running for Auditor because I am exceptionally qualified for the job and care deeply about Kentucky. These aren’t just empty political words, they summarize my background and the choices I’ve made. Despite being raised in a poor family in Rowan County, I earned a world-class education. I spent nearly 20 years building a successful career as a tax lawyer, working my way up to partner at some of the largest and most prestigious law and accounting firms in the world. In 2011, I was recognized as a top ten tax lawyer in the country.

In 2014, I moved back to Morehead because my mom was dying. After she died, I could have easily gone back to working in a job where I was paid four times the Auditor’s salary. I didn’t do that. I stayed in Morehead to teach because I wanted to serve my community and my commonwealth. That’s why I’m running for Auditor. I want to use my impressive professional skills to serve all Kentuckians.

Relying on “intricate knowledge of state government” as a reason for endorsement sent a clear message to outsiders like me entering politics: what counts isn’t your on-point capabilities, your generous motivations, or the quality of your ideas. What counts is who you know in Frankfort. Perhaps this wasn’t your intent, it’s the message nevertheless.

I respectfully ask all voters who want an independent Auditor who isn’t beholden to any political insiders to vote for me on Nov. 7.

Jonathan Shell

I have spent this campaign meeting and talking with Kentucky farmers and voters where they are. I haven’t spent a single minute worrying about liberal editorial boards. The voters I’ve been talking to are struggling in an economy forced on us by Joe Biden. They feel frozen out of the economy, frozen out of the workforce and frozen out of being able to express themselves without facing some ridiculous, woke backlash. They are the farmers and factory workers, the nurses and teachers who keep our country running. They deserve to be heard. And on Nov. 7, they will be heard loud and clear. I feel their frustration. As Kentucky’s next Ag Commissioner, I will fight every day to build a better future for Kentucky agriculture. We’ll lift up our entire state.

My opponent is not a farmer and would only spend her time supporting Biden for reelection. The differences in values and experience are clear. Together we can Stop Biden and Save Kentucky. I would be grateful to have your vote.

Kyle Whalen

I’ve spent my career in this community making it easier to work, easier to learn, easier to build, easier to own a home and safer to live. As your next State Representative, I’ll bring my commonsense, my compassion and my decades of experience to help every family have the opportunity to prosper on their own.

Instead of giving Lexington a seat at the table, this paper endorsed a candidate who would go to Frankfort and be left out in the cold.

I’m the only candidate in this race who has the experience and the relationships to deliver for Lexington in Frankfort. I’ve run a small business for over 40 years. I’ve worked hard to make payroll and support 70+ employees. I was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police because our law enforcement know I will have their backs and help keep our streets safe. I’ve contributed to this community on several boards and task forces not to advance a political agenda, but to improve this city we call home.

My opponent would get stuck in the slim minority in Frankfort, getting nothing done. With rising crime and surging inflation, your family would pay the price.

I’m running for office to continue serving my community. I would be honored to have your vote for State Representative.

Vote for Whalen

Kyle Whalen is a candidate for the Kentucky House of Representative’s 93rd District in Lexington. I feel fortunate that I have come to know Kyle in the past couple of years. I am convinced that he will be an excellent representative of the 93rd District.

Kyle is both a thoughtful and practical person. He is informed by his experiences as a small business owner, an employer, a community leader, and a family man. He also understands the practical realities of staying within a budget, making a payroll, and managing an enterprise. Both of these sides of Kyle inform his viewpoints regarding sensible policy, as well as their practical and efficient execution. His positions, I believe, are excellent ones, including the importance of safe and peaceful communities, the promotion of a good education and skill acquisition for workers, a healthy economic setting for business, and robust job creation. These help both workers and employers, as well as all community citizens, to prosper.

In sum, Kyle Whalen is a superb candidate for our statehouse and I urge all voters in the 93rd district to support him this November.

John Garen, Lexington

More on Whalen

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Kyle Whalen as he runs for the 93rd district seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Having known Kyle for 28 years, I can personally attest to his unwavering dedication to Lexington.

Kyle’s extensive volunteer work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Tree Board, Lexington Library, the Homeless Task Force, and workforce development initiatives has left an indelible mark on Lexington. His commitment to making our city a better place is evident through his actions.

As a lifelong Democrat, I appreciate Kyle’s focus on improving public education, advocating for safer neighborhoods, and ensuring government accountability.

In these challenging times, we need leaders like Kyle Whalen, who are committed to the betterment of our community and the well-being of its residents. I urge everyone in the 93rd district to join me in supporting Kyle Whalen in the upcoming special election.

Jay Rodes, Lexington

And more Whalen

Kyle Whalen is the clear choice for Kentucky’s 93rd District! Kyle is rooted in our community. He lives here, raising his family here and stays actively involved supporting our community. He is committed to this idea of service to the 93rd! Kyle is a proven leader. He gives his resources of materials, time and talent over and over again, including to the Habitat for Humanity, the Homeless Task force and the Library Board, just to name a few.

Kyle is a person of strong character and conviction, pledging to ensure Fayette County and the 93rd District are heard in Frankfort. He is a good listener. He welcomes and respects one’s opinion. I have known Kyle as a great friend and successful businessman for over 40 years. He will be great!

Please join me on election day in voting KYLE WHALEN for 93rd District Representative as our voice in Frankfort!

Rob Bolton, Lexington

Sierra Enlow

We have a woman candidate who is so qualified in every subject pertaining to agriculture, there is no equal.

Being raised on a 600-acre farm gave her the experience and knowledge of agriculture. She earned two degrees from the University of Kentucky and a runs successful consulting business. She will be promoting new ideas for farmers with her thought-out answers and knowledgeable experiences.

I ask all voters, please vote for Sierra Enlow for Agriculture Commissioner.

John Cissell, Bardstown

Kim Reeder

I was disappointed to learn that in the November Auditor’s race the Herald-Leader did not endorse Kim Reeder, a gifted newcomer to politics who has entered the race for all the right reasons. Better educated than any person running for statewide office in either party - Yale, Duke (Master of Public Policy), and University of North Carolina Law School - Kim has had a long and successful career as a tax attorney with some of the largest law and accounting firms in the country. Hers is a fresh face among career politicians, the kind of person too often we lament not running for public office. Well, she is running and soon will have visited every county in the state.

For anyone who has met Kim, it’s clear she is very smart and genuinely public-spirited - the kind of candidate both parties should strive to support. The office of Auditor is one of the most important offices in state government because it is tasked with seeing that our tax dollars are spent properly and efficiently. I hope voters will carefully assess what they expect of public servants in Frankfort. If we don’t get behind our best and our brightest, we will continue to be perceived as a backward state.

Richard Taylor, Frankfort

Daniel Cameron

Daniel Cameron would be the youngest Governor since the early 1960’s. He has a limited resume, least experience, historical knowledge and understanding of all things Kentucky than other Governors serving during this period. Prior to being elected Attorney General, his career spanned eight years. His first executive management leadership position appears to be AG. His policy positions should be concerning.

Cameron joined or initiated legal challenges to oppose Gov. Andy Beshear’s emergency executive COVID mitigation actions. The Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously found the Governor’s actions were constitutional. In campaign ads, he notes his efforts to discourage the use of mitigation efforts.

Cameron opposes strengthening healthcare record privacy laws. The goal is access to health records of women who go out of state for abortion activities and to prosecute them when they return to their home states. Cameron’s draconian anti-abortion stance threatens the health and lives of woman and girls.

He supports elimination of the Kentucky income tax, less revenue, and fewer government services. He opposes the Kentucky Open Records Act, which is not a positive sign for good government. He also supports tax money being given to private schools.

Danny Shearer, Lexington

More Cameron

It’s been 52 years since I read George Orwell’s nightmarish novel “1984.” This painted a horrifying picture of our future, so I decided to re-read it. On page one of “1984,” we see an image of Big Brother, “the face of a man about forty-five with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features... It was one of those pictures so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.”

Our very own Daniel Cameron wants to be Big Brother for Kentucky saying he and other attorneys general have the authority to force physicians in other states to turn over women’s private medical records on demand. Yes ladies, he and 18 other attorneys general DO want to watch you. One has to wonder what this GOP obsession with women’s reproduction is. Maybe the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has an entry on this, if not, it should. Yes, the female population of Kentucky needs to show Daniel Cameron the door. Ladies, if you band together you won’t need help from us guys but I, for one, am glad to assist.

George Weems, Lawrenceburg

Don’t vote Beshear

The Lexigton Herald-Leader has endorsed another Democrat for governor - surprise, surprise! I don’t know what the editorial board asked Gov. Andy Beshear, but I’m pretty sure I know what they didn’t ask. They didn’t ask about his contempt for the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment which he proved when shutting down houses of worship. They didn’t ask about his administration’s utter disregard when he forced businesses to close and then failed to provide unemployment compensation for months for thousands of unemployed. They didn’t ask about his disregard for the most vulnerable in nursing homes. The Herald-Leader has reported on the lack of nursing home inspections as required. Any of these disqualify Beshear as governor!

William Riffe, Lancaster

Vote for Beshear

I am in deep admiration of the man for whom I will cast my vote for Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear. He has spent the last four years working hard to build a better economy for all Kentuckians rather than criticize limply from the sidelines. He has handled crisis after crisis with focus, efficiency, and compassion, instead of turning a blind eye to injustices. He has governed rather than merely made noise. Best of all, he understands our state motto: “United we stand, divided we fall,” and puts it into practice by bringing people together rather than pushing them apart with coarse rhetoric and partisan vitriol.

Just listen to him the next time he talks; our governor uses his words to lift people up rather than tear them down. Listen also to his opponent, who wastes no opportunity to try to convince us that we are enemies rather than neighbors. Gov. Beshear works across the aisle and understands his responsibility to all Kentuckians and not just to those who agree with him or share his party affiliation. We are a better state thanks to his work and vision, and we will be better still with four more years.

Bo List, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey