Democrats gather at Kentucky Dam Village

July 31, 2009 | Beth Musgrave | Comments 1

KENTUCKY DAM VILLAGE — A smaller than usual crowd of Democrats gathered at Kentucky Dam Village on Friday night. With no elections on the ballot come November and Gov. Steve Beshear on vacation, the typically packed bean soup supper was a much quieter affair than in year’s past.

Daniel Mongiardo (left) and Jack Conway

The dinner, held the evening before the Fancy Farm picnic, kicks off a weekend of political activities that usually signals the beginning of the political season.

All eyes were on U.S. Senate candidates Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo and Attorney General Jack Conway. The two men worked the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center, shaking hands with Western Kentucky voters and the party faithful.

“If I seem a little tired, I come by it honestly,” Conway told the crowd. Conway’s first child was born more than a week ago.

Conway talked about his family’s roots in Western Kentucky and touted his accomplishments as attorney general.

“We need to return to fiscal responsibility, ” Conway said. “We need to focus on education.”

In particular, Kentucky should develop an early education program, he added.

Mongiardo, who narrowly lost to Republican U.S. Senator Jim Bunning in 2004, pledged to take back the Senate seat for the Democratic Party. Mongiardo promised to protect Kentucky’s coal industry. “We want to protect the environment,” Mongiardo said. “Without putting a tax on coal.”

Mongiardo, a doctor, also pledged to be a leader in reforming the nation’s health care system.

Although Beshear was a no-show, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, his running mate for 2011, gave a short speech Friday night. Abramson got a standing ovation from the crowd.

Abramson reminded the crowd that in far Eastern Kentucky there was an open state Senate seat. Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, faces Dr. Jack Ditty, a Republican dermatologist, in an Aug. 25 special election to fill the Senate District 18 seat vacated by Charlie Borders.

“We’ll take back that seat,” Abramson said to cheers. Republicans have controlled the Senate since 2000.

State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach said even in a non-election year, Fancy Farm and its satellite activities are a great way for politicians to connect with voters, particularly in an age where mass media is the norm.

“We need to get out and see voters even in off-election years,” Hollenbach said.

During his speech Friday night, Hollenbach said it was obvious that the Democratic Party was strong judging by the caliber of candidates in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. But Hollenbach cautioned that the upcoming senate primary does not have to be divisive.

“We don’t have to be against the other guy,” Hollenbach said. “Let’s be forward-looking, positive and affirmative.”