Louisville mayoral race: FOP endorses Dieruf as Greenberg focuses on abortion rights

The race to become the next mayor of Louisville is entering its final few months, with Republican Bill Dieruf and Democrat Craig Greenberg earning notable endorsements.

The latest announcements came within several hours of one another Thursday, when Planned Parenthood Action KY backed Greenberg and the Jefferson County Fraternal Order of Police Presidents Council, which features six lodges including those representing Louisville Metro Police and Metro Corrections officers, got behind Dieruf.

Dieruf, currently the mayor of Jeffersontown in southeastern Jefferson County, and Greenberg, an attorney who co-owns Ohio Valley Wrestling and previously served as CEO of 21c Museum Hotels, are competing to succeed Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat who is limited by law from running for a fourth, four-year term.

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Greenberg touted his Planned Parenthood endorsement and told The Courier Journal that the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which established the right to an abortion, means the "fight for reproductive freedom is now more than ever in state capitals and in cities." Though much policymaking authority rests with state and federal lawmakers, Greenberg has said he opposes a proposed amendment to Kentucky's constitution that would eliminate the right to an abortion and would "not use LMPD to be the enforcement arm of Kentucky’s extreme abortion ban."

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"My Republican opponent, Bill Dieruf, is backed by anti-abortion extremists who work to criminalize all abortions, even in the case of rape or incest," Greenberg said. "Bill also refuses to say if he’ll allow the police to arrest women seeking abortions and the doctors who assist them."

While accepting the law enforcement union endorsement at the River City FOP Lodge on Thursday afternoon, Dieruf said that abortion is not an issue under the purview of the mayor's office. He declined to share his views on arresting and prosecuting individuals over any abortion ban but said "it will come in the future."

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Dieruf said Greenberg's statement regarding abortion "is a sign of a desperate candidate" who is "saying untruths about me."

"Today is about the men and women that put their uniforms on and gives their lives for us," Dieruf, who has been Jeffersontown's mayor since 2010, said, describing Louisville as an unsafe city.

"One mom said her kid sleeps in a cast iron tub in order to feel safe," Dieruf said. "A group of moms I've met with said they can't allow their kids to go outside and play because of the stray bullets. We have people afraid to go shopping because of carjackings. ... This is not acceptable."

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"I will bring the safety back," Dieruf continued, pledging to "eliminate the gangs and the cartel leaders in this community so our youth has a chance." He also said he would replicate Jeffersontown's efforts to treat, not punish, those struggling with addiction and homelessness.

"I will bring the pride back. I will bring the ranks back. I will bring Louisville back to a place where you're proud to say, this is my community."

Dieruf also added that as he has "traveled around this community, I’ve had many times where police officers that have retired (said), ‘We’re coming back if you’re downtown.’"

Ryan Straw, who chairs the Jefferson County FOP Presidents Council, said both candidates "have a heart for Louisville." Police officers in Jeffersontown, Shively and St. Matthews are also among those represented by the Jefferson County lodges.

But Straw said the "overwhelming majority" of the 3,500 members who make up the six local lodges felt "experience was key" in endorsing Dieruf over Greenberg, who has also taken a pro-police stance and pledged to hire more officers to try to fill LMPD's staffing shortage.

"We looked at the past three terms of our current mayor. Experience was not there," Straw said, referring to Fischer. "We're comfortable with Mayor Dieruf. He was proven. His police department in J-Town frankly loves him, and that was a big push for us."

This story may update as more endorsements come in during the weeks leading up to the November election.

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mayor election: FOP backs Dieruf, Greenberg talks abortion