By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI
FRANKFORT —
After all the speculation, it wasn’t much of a surprise Wednesday when state Sen. President David Williams and Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer announced they’ve formed a gubernatorial ticket.
The two Republicans have been in discussions for weeks about such a ticket and Williams has openly said he wanted to run for governor and wanted Farmer, the one-time University of Kentucky basketball player, to run with him.
“There comes a time in your career that to advance the state and the principles you believe the next step has to be taken,” Williams, 57, told a room full of repor-ters at his Frankfort house Wednes-day. “We believe this state is adrift and that we need a positive, pro-job agenda that will move this state forward.”
He discounted concerns some express about Farmer’s readiness to assume the office of lieutenant governor. Farmer, 41, has twice been elected commissioner of agriculture but last week told reporters he could “possibly learn more about state government” if he became lieutenant governor.
“I hope to learn more about state government,” Williams said when asked about Farmer’s statement. “It’s a continuing process to educate yourself and I would hope Commis-sioner Farmer and I would both learn together.”
He said Farmer became ag commissioner without a lot of administrative experience “but he’s done a tremendous job. I think he is the man for the job.” You can always learn more about state government,” Farmer said. “I was actually talking about the fact that I’ve only been in service now as commissioner for six and a half years. Some people may have had questions when I came in as commissioner and my record as commissioner has spoken for itself.”
He said his decision to run was a family decision, made with his wife, Becky. “The fact that I love Kentucky and I have a zeal to try to make this a better place for my kids and all of Kentucky’s kids to grow up, that’s the only qualification I need at this point.”
Williams said he’d left incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear a message telling Beshear he and Farmer will run and to “express my commitment to continue to work with him” during the upcoming General Assembly. He said he’d spoken with Republican state senators and all but one member of Kentucky’s congressional delegation. He also informed Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, of his plans to run for governor.
Williams, the sometimes controversial president of the state Senate for the past 10 years who was first elected to the state House in 1985, said he has been involved in most of the major issues facing Kentucky, including
education — “one of my most ardent pursuits: — and has been “fiscally responsible” and addressed the troubled state pension system.
“A lot of these issues that we’ve tried to address just seem to not be on Gov. Beshear’s agenda,” Williams said. “We cannot afford another four years of inaction on the serious problems facing our commonwealth.”
Williams, an attorney from Burkesville, usually evokes strong reactions from those who work with him. He is cast by many Democrats as an obstructionist who has thwarted the policies of the Democratic House and Beshear. Republican supporters view him as a legislative wizard. His political ally, Kentucky’s top Republican, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, has called him the best legislator he’s seen other than deceased Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Williams and Farmer are the second Republican ticket to form and seek the right to face Beshear and his running mate, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, in next year’s election. Louisville businessman Phil Moffett and Danville state Rep. Mike Harmon have also formed a ticket, openly seeking the support of TEA Party supporters. Independents Gatewood Galbraith and Dea Riley are running and perennial candidate Otis Hensley has filed to run in the Democratic primary.
Scott Jennings, a former White House aide to George W. Bush who worked on campaigns for Bush and McConnell, will manage the campaign. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Donald Storm will chair the campaign.
Williams said they plan no “formal fundraisers” or solicitations for money until after the Nov. 2 election. “We’re committed to the election of Rand Paul to the United States Senate and to our legislative candidates that are running on the Republican ticket and we think it would be inappropriate for us to go in direct opposition with them to raise money.”
Beshear’s campaign has raised $2.6 million already for next year’s race.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
