Templeman officially enters race for U.S. Rep. Chandler’s seat
Mike Templeman
By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — Six Republicans want Democrat Ben Chandler’s job in the U.S. House of Representatives.
But Chandler, who was elected to Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District in 2004, has no opposition in the May 18 Democratic primary.
Republicans consider Chandler more vulnerable than in years past, said Andy Sere, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “Ben Chandler is in for a fight,” he said.
Chandler, of Versailles, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Former coal businessman Mike Templeman officially entered the race against Chandler Tuesday with sharp comments.
Templeman said Chandler incorrectly voted for President Obama’s “cap-and-trade” energy bill and is “a lap dog” for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Templeman said Chandler made “a terrible mistake” by voting for the cap-and-trade legislation, which would essentially put a price on carbon dioxide emissions by auctioning off permits to emit the gas.
The “cap” would work by setting a maximum amount of carbon to be emitted in the United States, and the “trade” would allow the carbon emitters to freely trade carbon permits among themselves.
“Our economy has been based on cheap energy for a long, long time,” Templeman said. “Under this legislation, Kentuckians would be hurt.”
Templeman said Chandler “has lost touch. He has not done anything to address this jobs issue in our state.”
He also said Chandler “needs to stop traveling” so much in office. “He needs to come home. He’s got a wife and some kids maybe he needs to spend time with.”
The Herald-Leader reported in October 2008 about Chandler’s trip at taxpayers’ expense to the Galapagos Islands as part of a congressional “fact finding” trip that drew headlines nationwide.
Chandler defended the excursion, arguing that what he learned has been vital to Congress’s ongoing understanding of climate change.
Meanwhile, GOP Congressional candidate Andy Barr said in a news release that “the interest in this race by others is indicative of the widespread discontent with our current representation in Washington.”
Barr noted that he has raised more than $300,000 in about three months for his campaign and was recognized this week by the NRCC for his ability to raise funds and build a successful campaign structure.
Other Republicans seeking the seat are Perry Wilson Barnes of Nicholasville, Matt Lockett of Lexington and John T. Kemper III of Lexington.
The state’s other Democratic member of Congress — John Yarmuth of Louisville — attracted five Republican opponents.
Eleven people — six Republicans and five Democrats — have signed up to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky being vacated by Republican Jim Bunning.
Click here to see a list of all the Kentucky candidates for U.S. representative and U.S. Senate.
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bebop | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
And this coal soaked clown is not a lapdog for the coal industry? Vote for and elect Templeman and watch KY fall even further behind in the global effort to stop carbon pollution.
versailles | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
or watch Chandler jet around the world as he has (one of House’s top travelers) in jets paid for by outside groups as he contributes millions of miles of carbon to the atmosphere…Gallapagos, Australia, Europe…
prentice | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
This fraud is the last person on earth to expound on family values. Someone ask about his connection to the fraud-ridden Fletcher Admin., that would be x rated.
Donald Hagy | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Uh, excuse me, Mr. Templeman. Isn’t this a case of the coal pot calling the kettle black? I’m sure with all your interests in the coal industry you are NOBODY’S lap dog. Sorry, but I can see through you like used Neutrogena.
ahem | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Templeman’s sonlaw got a job with beshear administration in mining…sure it had nothing to do with his contributions to beshear, luallen and conway.
Chris Robbins | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
I don’t see how cap-and-trade will hurt Kentuckians – if we are becoming ever cleaner and more efficient with our energy use, even with combusting coal, then doesn’t it open the door for more-and-more coal to be mined and burned for energy in the future?
I think Templeman – and the entire Republican Right’s arguments against cap-and-trade can pretty much be chalked up as fearmongering hypocrisy.
Big Ben 4 liberty | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
I think Chris Robbins pro Crap-n-Tax rant is typical of the pro-junk science, anti-economic growth and prosperity arguments of the neo-Luddite, enviro-Marxist wing of the Democrat (Socialist) and Green parties.
JACOB | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Chandler? oh don’t get me started. Chandler loves to stick it to his constituents without even extending the common courtesy a a reach-around.
phyre | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Chandler is a worthless weasel, but he’s still better then this clown.
BimBeau | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Big-hasBeen-4-Liberty has not taken a science course since Kindergaarten.
It’s not that I’m pro Cap-&-Trade; actually I’m against it. But only because it’s a get-rich even quicker scheme for commodity traders and doesn’t actually reward reduction. It rewards rule bending cost (not pollution) reductions. We all know where cost reductions originate & impact.
An interesting aside … Is Ben Chandler using the pseudonym, “Big-Ben-4-Liberty”? Their polity is soooooooooooo similar …
.
Carl | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
I say anyone but Chandler. He desperately wants to be a real Washington insider/player, that is all he cares about. Please people, do not vote for Ben Chandler.
notSteveBeshear | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
as a conservative(I did NOT say republican!), this guy looks like another loser. No interest in him at all. He will be beholden to many.
Chandler is another lifelong politician who angles for the right “play” to gain favor( pelosi). Cap & Trade? what a joke. It is not about “greening” the planet, it is about choking the life out of economies. Read the news, man made global warming is a hoax by greedy “scientists” to get $$$. if you can’t look it up. I’ll post some links on here.
Paul | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
This guy looks like another special interest purveyor. His attitude about coal is predictable because he’s making millions on it. People like Templeman would have you believe that alternative energy options are liberal claptrap and coal and gas are the only game in town. He would discourge these options because it would be “bad” for his business. Fact is, if we don’t rapidly develop viable alternatives for energy quickly, we are apt to be stuck freezing in the dark someday when oil and coal reserves dry up or become so scarce that only the rich can afford it.
bigdog43 | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Hey people did you see that globle warming was a scam, come on man! Whoever wins the republican primary, Templeman or Barr wins the race. Chandler has been on the government tit too long. He will get an appointed government job when he loses, so do not feel sorry for him.
Sharbot | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
I am confused why the Herald Leader focused on the Coal representative as an alternative to Chandler. There are other people running and I refuse to believe they will all be as sleazy as these two. Lexington can have a representative who actually listens to its constituents again!
David | Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
You can always gauge the threat to the left by the vitriol of their responses. Barr and Matt are impressive but young. Let’s have a three way event and let the people decide.
Based on the majority of the responses I think the apple cart has just tipped!
Buck Feshear | Jan 27, 2010 | Reply
I have the best idea yet to end carbon “pollution.” I say we get rid of all liberals; then they will no longer be able to exhale that deadly pollutant carbon dioxide.
Big Ben 4 liberty | Jan 27, 2010 | Reply
Hey BimBeau, is that really you? Now whole other blog can see what a crap for brains left-wing zombie you are.
OTOH, if you confuse with that as*clown Chandler again, I going to show your wife what real man is.
Lou Boy | Jan 27, 2010 | Reply
Can Mr. Templeman explain his 1000 dollar contribution to Jack Conway for Senate?
Steve Hamlin | Apr 30, 2010 | Reply
Matt Lockett has been in this race longer than anyone! He was the first to say enough is enough after Ben Chandler voted for the Cap and Trade bill last summer. Matt has traveled the 6th District over the past year listening to voters.
He was asked over and over:”You are just one man what will you be able to do?” He listened and decided he had to do something about that. So he Cofounded the Conservative Freshmen Coalition to be able to go work for us as soon as he is sworn in. The CFC is has grown now to 50 Conservative candidates from all over the country!
http://www.conservativefreshmencoalition.com/
Matt is not a career politician and he is not a lawyer he is a common man with a great vision!He has proven he will listen to the voters of the 6th District!