Bill Johnson and Damon Thayer consider run for state’s top offices
Bill Johnson
State Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown
FRANKFORT — Todd County businessman Bill Johnson, who withdrew from this year’s Republican primary election for U.S. Senate, and state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, are considering running as a slate in next year’s race for governor and lieutenant governor.
Johnson, a Navy veteran who garnered about 8,000 votes in last week’s primary election even though he bowed out of the race in March, said Tuesday that he hopes to decide by June or July whether to run for governor next year.
Both Johnson and Thayer said Republicans they would consider formidable opponents in a primary bid for governor next year include state Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer of Manchester, Senate President David Williams of Burkesville and Jess Correll, president of First Southern National Bank in Stanford.
An aide for Farmer said earlier this month that he has not yet made any decision about his political plans. Williams has been frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but has not said publicly if he would run.
An aide for Correll said he would “get back in touch later.”
“The question is can I raise the money,” Johnson said. “I believe whoever is the Republican slate, they should get started early.”
Johnson said he considers Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who is running for re-election next year with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate, vulnerable because of his handling of the state budget.
Thayer, who has been a member of the Senate since 2003 and is chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, confirmed he has discussed the race for governor and lieutenant governor with Johnson.
“Bill Johnson is the kind of Reagan conservative Kentucky could use in government,” Thayer said.
Thayer said he has “been talking to many people about the statewide elections in 2011 and I want to be sure there is a strong Republican ticket from top to bottom.”
“I am keeping all my options open,” he said.
Besides a possible run for governor next year, Johnson said he is mulling a bid for state Senate in 2012 against Democratic incumbent Joey Pendleton of Hopkinsville.
Thayer said he may also seek re-election to the state Senate in 2012, or he may run for some other statewide office in 2011.
Thayer said Johnson was not hurt politically by withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race this year.
“I think his profile was enhanced by being in the race and running a clear, clean campaign,” he said. “Bill just found out that in that race won by Rand Paul that Rand Paul could use his father’s name to raise millions and Trey Grayson could use his base as secretary of state to raise money.”
Johnson did not endorse in the race after he withdrew from it.
Gatewood Galbraith, a Lexington lawyer who has run unsuccessfully for governor four times, is running as an independent in the 2011 gubernatorial election. His running mate is Dea Riley, a political consultant in Frankfort who has managed several campaigns in the state.
Filed Under: Bill Johnson • Damon Thayer • Elections • Governor's Race
About the Author: John Stamper is the accountability editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
A Johnson/Thayer ticket would be great for Kentucky. I respect both men very much.
I am not sure about Thayer, but I do like Bill Johnson.
I will have to consider gatewood.
GO BILL!!!!
But pick another running mate.
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Who the hell is Jess Correll?
If any Republican Kentucky banker is going to run, it ought to be Mike Duncan.
Bill showed his colors in the senate race and they werent pretty. I’d never vote for this man.
[...] Lexington Herald-Leader broke the story Tuesday night that state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, is considering running on a ticket with Bill Johnson, a [...]
I don’t know anything about Johnson. I do know about Thayer. He is a blithering idiot. He is the perfect example of the Carpet Baggers that we learned about in 8th grade history. He needs to head back to Michigan from whence he came.
Wow. I can’t believe Bill Johnson’s nerve. He screwed over his campaign workers for the Senate race, which is not well known. Can NOT, will NOT recommend him for any office!!
“Screwed over” Senate campaign workers is an understatement relieved of its pornographic meaning. Johnson led them on for at least a couple of weeks before quitting. He applauded their expenditures (thousands upon thousands) for offices, materials and shirts/yard signs/bumper stickers and the quit days later. He royally screwed Alan Keyes who managed a brief comment of how easy it is to get a fat head in politics. He turned his back on so many only to show up introducing “My good friend Rand Paul” at a Tea Party 8 weeks after issuing a joint statement with Grayson against Paul! He used to redicule Paul regularly!
The Gov. Office isn’t a consolation prize, Johnson. Above all don’t dare use DUTY-HONOR-COUNTRY. It was all hype!
Think longer and harder Damon. Look up “sociopath” first.
Republican again? it reminds me of corrupt and incompetent Fletcher administration.
Lets try an pick the best of what Kentucky has to offer. Stan Lee is one of the few politicans in Kentucky I would consider honest and dedicated to Kentucky. Thayer won’t make it with Johnson as a running mate.
Ah, the fun days when some-dude-named-Bill-Johnson’s ten supporters used to flood the comments section here talking about how he was going to beat Paul and Grayson. Good times.
We were as wrong on Johnson as you are wrong on Paul! There. I said it.