David Williams and Richie Farmer form slate to seek state’s top offices
Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville
UPDATED AT 6:45 P.M.
By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT — Senate President David Williams and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer teamed up Wednesday to run next year for Kentucky’s highest elective offices — governor and lieutenant governor.
“We believe this state is adrift, and we need a positive, pro-jobs agenda to put us in competition with other states,” Williams said during a news conference at his Frankfort home near the Capitol.
Known as scrappers in their own right, the well-known Republicans — Williams has been the controversial leader of the state Senate since 2000 and Farmer was a member of UK’s “Unforgettables” team in the 1991-92 season — face a tough fight.
Within minutes after Williams and Farmer announced their slate, Louisville businessman Phil Moffett, who has formed a GOP slate with state Rep. Mike Harmon of Danville, let it be known that his ticket will not be a pushover in next May’s Republican primary election.
“Running against someone who has signed off on all the debt Kentuckians are struggling with now and who has supported lots of tax increases kind of makes me feel like I’m already facing a Democrat,” said Moffett, who has the backing of several Tea Party movement members.
Democrats offered equally harsh words for Williams, who opponents have long-called the “Bully from Burkesville” as he successfully blocked their highest legislative priorities, such as expanded gambling.
“I believe that Kentuckians, both Democrats and many Republicans, are as happy as I am that we finally get a chance to cast a ballot against the man who has turned the state Senate into a place where good ideas go to die,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Dan Logsdon.
Logsdon predicted that Williams’ first major test “will be to convince Republican voters next May that he is a fiscal conservative.
“I find it hard to believe that the GOP’s Tea Party primary faithful will nominate a man whose main legislative accomplishment has been to build record state debt to enrich his road contractor cronies.”
Mica Sims, a Tea Party movement organizer in Lexington, agreed.
“David Williams is not going to run away with the Republican primary,” she said. “He’s an incumbent and a tax-and-spend legislator. He has red ink on his hands.
Sims dismissed the name recognition of Williams and Farmer.
“Look at Rand Paul,” she said of the Republican U.S. Senate nominee. “No one knew him at first.”
Larry Forgy, who lost the Republican race for governor in 1995 and favors Williams, said he has been to about as many Tea Party rallies as Sims, and “they don’t have a monopoly on conservatives.”
Forgy also said he does not know Moffett but expressed concern that he has not been visible in GOP efforts in the past. “I don’t think he should be given the choirmaster’s job the first month he joins the church,” Forgy said.
The early posturing of the candidates and their supporters indicates that Kentuckians “should anticipate a lively race” for governor, said Joe Gershtenson, director of Eastern Kentucky University’s Institute of Public Governance and Civic Engagement.
At this point, the tickets of Williams-Farmer and Democratic incumbent Steve Beshear with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson have to be the most prominent because of their name recognition, Gershtenson said.
The professor said he sees no successful challenge to Beshear in next May’s Democratic primary election because Beshear already has amassed about $2.5 million in campaign funds.
A consequence of Beshear and Williams in the race, Gershtenson said, is to expect little results in the 2011 General Assembly that begins in January.
“It will be more difficult to find a lot of cooperation in next year’s state legislature,” Gershtenson said. “Most eyes will be on the governor’s race.”
Seated side by side at the news conference, Williams said the ticket offers “two guys who will not be afraid to make bold decisions” and who believe “that we need a change in leadership.”
Williams said he had discussed the ticket in the last 24 hours with state legislators, the state’s congressional delegation and even had left a message with Beshear earlier in the morning.
In the call to Beshear, he said, he gave his commitment to work with Beshear “for the rest of his tenure.”
Farmer, a Clay County native who can’t seek re-election to agriculture commissioner next year because of term limits, said he decided to run for lieutenant governor because of “what Kentucky has done for me.”
The politicians said they will not actively solicit or hold fund-raisers until after the Nov. 2 general elections but would accept campaign contributions.
Williams said he expects strong support from Republicans and moderate and conservative Democrats.
“I don’t expect Democratic politicians to be gleeful about the entry of David Williams and Richie Farmer into the governor’s race,” he said. “They see us as a real threat.”
People who really know him, Williams said, “don’t buy what the Herald-Leader and Courier-Journal editorial boards have tried to paint me as, so it will be my opportunity for the next several months to let the people of Kentucky get to know me.”
Asked about Farmer’s recent comment that he viewed the position of lieutenant governor as a chance to learn more about state government, Williams pounced on the question and said all politicians should try to learn more about state government.
“It’s a continuing process to try to educate yourself,” he said.
Williams said he has watched Farmer operate the agriculture department for seven years, “and he has done a tremendous job.”
Beshear’s re-election campaign took the Williams-Farmer announcement in stride.
“It looks like the Republicans will have a heated primary, and we are looking forward to running next fall against whoever emerges from that primary,” said campaign spokesman Matt Osborne.
Another Democrat in next year’s race is perennial candidate Otis “Bullman” Hensley Jr., a Harlan County demolition contractor. His running mate is Evarts coal miner Richard Robbins.
Lexington lawyer Gatewood Galbraith is running as an independent. His running mate is Dea Riley, a Frankfort political consultant.
Former state Adjutant General Donald Storm will be the campaign chairman for Williams and Farmer, who filed their candidacy with the state Registry of Election Finance Wednesday morning. Williams said the campaign will be managed by Scott Jennings of Louisville, a former aide to President George W. Bush.
Here’s a three-minute video the Williams-Farmer campaign released Wednesday:
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
bennielen | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Please!!! no Governor Williams, hasnt he hurt this state enough?
rd | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Maybe it’ll get him out of the Senate with his personal agenda and obstructionist attitude.
dhagy | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Sarah Palin will be so proud. You can bet that I’ll be at the polls to cast a vote AGAINST these two clowns.
Paula | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Well, this is one way to get Williams out of the Senate & stop Farmer’s political ascension.
How is Williams explaining Farmer’s wasteful spending as Ag Commissioner during these tough budget times?
Jonathan | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
He has crippled the horse industry in KY. My family has been sending our horses out of state to be bred and foal for several years now, money is much better else where because of slots. Several of our tracks are teetering with closing. Too bad for Farmer I kind of like him. The horse industry will come out n force against these two.
Frustrated with Idealogues | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Doesn’t this beg the question of who we are really voting for? Abramson and Farmer seem to be the draw for both tickets. Wonder how Williams can sleep at night knowing that the state is “adrift” when he is the primary reason that consensus can never be reached. If the current mentality is truly anti-incumbent, we should send him packing to Burkesville…not to the Governor’s mansion!
Jaspercat105310 | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Tweedle de(ceit) and tweedle dum.
Whatda | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
What many of you do not realize is that since the change in the years of serving for the constiutioal offices, Williams does not leave the Senate to run. And, if he loses, he keeps his seat and can wield a much angrier and bigger stick at everyone who did not support him.
tafugate | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
frustrated stole my thunder, but he’s right, williams is THE single biggest reason kentucky politics is adrift. i hadn’t thought of it, but electing williams as governor would get him out of the senate. you guys in burkesville are killing the rest of the state. wise up!
taxpayer | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Well Stevie, pucker up.
Mike Nolan | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
How nice of the Herald-Leader to run Mr. Williams ad as though it were part of the story. How much extra did he pay for the placement?
Is the H-L so desperate for $$$ that they have3 to sell what little integrity they have left?
jdobbs3 | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Really? Is this a joke?!?
Richard | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
This is an OK ticket. I think Williams would make a good Gov. I will wait until after the primary to send the RPK my money.
Any Republican is better than any Democrat.
Ky is adrift because the state has been voting democrats in office forever wanting handouts. Farming handouts, coal handouts and all the medical and social programs for the poor. Sure the poor is going to vote for the person stealing from the producers to give to the non productive.
mo_ky_fellow | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Well, I see the leaf-leaners are out in full force this morning. It doesn’t matter what they say now, just wait until election evening when they see a good solid sweep and the H-L headlines the next morning read:
“Williams-Farmer win by a landslide”
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
You’ve got to be kidding me..The latest report released by KY Youth Advocates suggest we don’t need any more regressive leadership in this state!! Majority of population in KY is women.. no wonder we can’t move forward when Republicans are bent on setting policies that hurt women and children!! Common sense folks. KY can no longer afford ‘leaders’ like McConnell, David Williams, certainly not Rand Paul!!! Gals: We’ll revert back to chattel status and have to turn all our wages over to our husbands if Rand Paul & Williams have their way!
waterodg | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Tweedle dee and tweedle dum(b) is right. Now Ritchie can put all his family in even higher paying state jobs!!!
Little Jimmy | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
No matter how much you dislike this, Williams are Farmer are basically unbeatable due to the fact that Farmer alone will win this race for the ticket. What you dont realize also is there are alot of people who really like Williams and will vote for him specifically. Me included.
naturallyky | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
You couldn’t find two more intellectual light weights but hey, welcome our new governor and lt. gov. Number 50 of the states, here we come.
Linda | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Little Jimmy makes a very good point. Many voters will vote for Farmer because of UK–a horrible reason to vote for someone, but that’s how little some treasure their right to vote. Others agree with Williams. Scary, but true. Gatewood is looking better all the time…
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Williams hasn’t done anything to move this state forward as Senator why would anyone think he would as Governor??!?
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
A vote for Williams and Farmer is a direct attack on women and children.
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
We ended up with Bunning because he was a baseball player?!!? What a lame duck he’s been. Has all that mercury and cadmium damaged generations of brains in KY??!?
Chris | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Williams/Farmer? NO WAY IN HADES! This from a straight ticket voting Republican.
Beshear/Abramson? hehehe hahaha hoo hee ha! Democrats are going down Nationally as well as locally for the next couple of elections…..that is a fact. Looks like I will finally get to vote GATEWOOD into the Governors Mansion this time around. Boy, is that going to cause a bunch of hand wringing on both sides of the aisle.
GATEWOOD for GOVERNOR!
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
David Williams dont’ get it..you can’t move this state forward without advancing women. Majority of population in KY are women.
Richard | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Jeanie- are you on welfare? What exactly has Williams done to harm women?
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
All women better be thinking about devising a flight plan out of KY if Williams and Rand Paul take control. (Williams already in control and he’s hughly the problem now!!) Check out the latest report released by KY Youth Advocates…pityful and unnecessary!
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
@Richard, no.. but can you read? Have you looked at Williams record? Have you watched him in action during session??!?
Richard | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Yes I watch him and I read. I pretty much support what he does and says. Not sure what you are saying he harms women. He is great opposition toward the liberal democrat movement.
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
KY is spiraling downward.. and we’ve been under GOP reign for decades!
Jeanie Embry | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
@Richard.. all I can say then is you’re no friend of women and children either if you support Williams policies.
RoscoeRoe | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Wow – just when you think things can’t get any worse, along come Williams and Farmer. While you always want choices in an election, this is ridiculous. One candidate is a total legislative obstructionist who is super cozy with special interests(while also trying to line his district’s pockets with state road money during one of the worst fiscal situations in the commonwealth’s history) and the other is a basketball player with a suspect record as a public servant and apparent inability for abstract thought. Richie, don’t you wish your intellect was as big as your mustache? Quoting Ulysses Everett McGill, ” D–n! We’re in a tight spot”. Who knew he was talking about Kentucky.
Doo-dah! Doo-dah! | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Gatewood! Gatewood! Gatewood!
Richard | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Jeanie- you seem like an angry person. You must have second thoughts about your abortion. You do not know me. I totally support women and if the liberals would not have screwed up this county and state women would be at home cleaning, cooking and taking care of the children while the males earned a decent paycheck.
Gator | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
The Dems are in for a tough fight. The political climate is one that wellshift the balance of power back to the GOP. Fletcher did not have the support he needed in the Kentucky House of Representatives to bring about the one thing Kentucky needs, the Right to Work Statute. Until Kentucky Dems wake up and stop bowing to unions, Kentucky will falter. Go Williams and Richie!
Gator | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Sorry about the typo’s my secretary needs to do my typing
KyShark | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Mississipians will have a new phrase if these two are elected: “Hey, at least we’re not Kentucky.”
By the way, I wonder kind of license plate that pretty Dodge truck has on it…
Ben | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Nice one Richard! let’s get all women back in kitchen, barefoot and (preferably) pregnant! I can see now why you support Williams. And if anyone was starting to think that Jeanie was a bit daft, you come along and prove her point. BTW, would you go ask your wife or daughter to go get me a beer? I’m a man and I shouldn’t have to do that myself.
BecomingaformerDemocrat | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
“….another four years of inaction.” Wow! Williams 1/3 of the state’s leadership problem.
Frosted | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Is this the best Kentucky can do? SAD.
Tell me it's not so | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Would have thought Richie would have had more sense than to crawl in bed with poop sack Williams.
Bobalou | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Williams won’t get any traction across the state for dog catcher let alone governor. And now poor Ritchie has sold his soul out to the biggest devil in Frankfort. Democrats have to be loving this.
Let's learn | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
I don’t believe that Kentuckians are smart enough to know the difference. We did it once and we will do it again only now with a basketball. Beshear/Mongiardo or Williams/Farmer. Both front-runners could find their way out of a paper bag and relied on the second candidate. Losers!
KyShark | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
UPDATE: Surely that Dodge Ram in the ad has nothing to do with the 34,124 tax-payer dollars that the Department of Ag. spent at Ellerslie Copr. (aka Freedom Dodge) on June 18 of this year. C’mon tea-baggers, where are you on this one? Or is it okay because the Commissioner has “already made arrangements to reimburse the Commonwealth” for his personal use of the vehicle?
In case you were wondering, Freedom Dodge is currently selling Ram 1500s for between 32,500 and 45,000, not that it’s relevant.
dixxiecrat | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
They don’t have a prayer of winning.
No way! | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Was there no man or woman of integrity that the Republicans could run? Does no one in the KY GOP have any vision? Is politics as usual the only GOP concern? Is bullsh*t more important that reality? Kentucky is in a sad situation: Beshear or Williams. I can’t vote for either. Disgusting.
joetheplumberman | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
I really do want to vote for a fellow that tried to give $10million of our hard earned tax dollars to a private college, but stabs the state university in the back.
And we just got rid of a senator that spent all his time either playing with, or talking about playing with, his hard balls. Now we are going to get a L Gov that wants to talk about playing with his big bouncy balls.
Is KY the only state where our politicians play with their balls all the time?
JefferyWynne | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
One has to question Farmer on why he chose to be the running mate to a man he could have beat in a primary! Williams is not the solution for Kentucky, he’s the problem! My fellow Republicans, is this the best we can do? We need to contact Sen. Thayer and convince him to run.
jim conley | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Well, I guess we will see who is more popular around the state…Richie Farmer or John Calipari. We all know who Calipari is supporting. Dribble drive it Steve & Jerry !!
Let's learn | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Personnel at KDP HQ are still searching for the light switch to turn on the lights in the building. Everyone at KDP is working for Beshear and that guy from Louisville trying to be governor. There is no Democratic Party in Kentucky, folks! Wake-up. The House Democrats have moved out of KDP HQ, the Senate Democrats are still trying to find their way in, Conway’s camp left town long ago; Chandler is probably traveling somewhere, on and on and on. The few Democrats that are left and want to provide an alternative to fascist moral indignation of the Republican Party should take note that the KDP team is about as self serving as Republicans, except there not as good at it. The PageOneKentucky.com posting regarding he KDP sign with “no” message, shows how scared Dan Logsdon (Chairman & Exec. Dir.), Chad Aull (Governor’s Political Advisor) and the rest of leadership are in challenging anything Republican. Even worse, the inability to lead is a reflection on you and me, as Democrats’. Shame, shame, shame! And before any of you say it, you’re right; I may change my registration after 42 years of serving the “People’s Party” (that would be the Democratic Party and not the Chinese Party that we are in debt with).
observer | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
He’s made too many enemies to really have a shot. Adding Farmer might bring them a decent showing, but it’ll be like Forgy in 1995. Too undisciplined, too unpopular with moderates.
Gubmint_Cheese | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Jeanie – GOP Reign?
Beshear – 2007-Now – Democrat
Fletcher – 2003-2007 – Republican
Patton – 1995-2003 – Democrat
Jones – 1991-1995 – Democrat
Wilkinson – 1987-1991 – Democrat
Collins – 1983-1987 – Democrat
Brown – 1979-1983 – Democrat
Carroll – 1974-1979 – Democrat
Ford – 1971-1974 – Democrat
Nunn – 1967-1971 – Republican
Breathitt – 1963-1967 – Democrat
Combs – 1959-1963 – Democrat
Chandler – 1955-1959 – Democrat
Eight years out of the last 55. Not exactly “decades”…
casperf | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Gubmint_Cheese .. you see the problem is, the reign of Fletcher was sooo incompetent, like the reign of Bush, that people thought it was for a long time. They didn’t realize you can wreak so much havoc in such a short time.
Kybuilttoyota | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
I might be mistaken but the truck in the video is not a Dodge, it’s a Toyota Tundra. A Dodge grill is an oval while the Tundra’s grill slopes from the top to the bottom with the top part smaller than the bottom.
As far as Williams for Governor, I would rather have Grayson than Williams. The postion of Lt. Governor is of little impact on my selection for the top job.
I don’t think in the end that the Republicans will win the race for Governor of the Commonwealth unless something really bad happans in the next year. It will be close but in the end, people normally would rather have a politician they know is useless than one who they have no idea if they are useless.
Buck Feshear | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
“A vote for Williams and Farmer is a direct attack on women and children.”
Care to explain that comment, Jeanie?
Were I sit, anyone who supports abortion on demand is the ultimate enemy of children.
Buck Feshear | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
“Where I sit.”
Crappy keyboard…
t | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Both parties keep recycling their pets. If they can’t vote for re-election, the party puts them in for another office opening up. I think it’s disgusting & sad the Republican party will push these 2 yahoo’s in our faces in the upcoming months. At this moment, Gatewood’s got my vote in the general election but I’ll have to vote for some other joker(s) during the primary.
t | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
Sorry, I meant to say run for re-election.
farmkman | Sep 1, 2010 | Reply
joetheplumberman – I think you are on to something. I’m guessing that bunning has called farmer already and told him he can make big bucks (tax free!) getting people to pay to play with his balls.
SDM | Sep 2, 2010 | Reply
I like Williams and Farmer. They would do good.
It is still sort of early.
But Maybe a Grayson\Thayer ticket could arise.
Marion County | Sep 2, 2010 | Reply
Williams has been a major part of the problem in Frankfort for 15 years. Nothing is ever bipartisan in his eyes. Nothing gets done when that happens and nothing moves forward or improves.
Does Kentucky really want a Governor like this and a Lt Governor who can shoot the basketball, but purhases cars every other year on the taxpayers dime to avoid car maintence costs.
Is that the new definition of a conservative? I know it keeps changing.
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