Williams may run for governor

State News

August 26, 2010

By Ronnie Ellis CNHI News Service The Richmond Register Thu Aug 26, 2010, 09:53 AM EDT

FRANKFORT — David Williams sounds more and more like a man planning to run for governor.

Often critical of incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, Williams – the Republican President of the state Senate – seized upon news the state had again been left out in the award of competitive education grants to blame Beshear.

Wednesday, Williams appeared on WHAS-84 Radio’s Mandy Connell Show to blame Beshear for a lack of leadership on charter schools. Williams said Kentucky’s failure to authorize charter schools clearly is the reason the state twice made the finalist list for Race to the Top grants but each time failed to win final approval.

When Connell asked Williams what he would do differently were he governor, Williams said it’s necessary for a governor to “have an agenda yourself.”

“You can’t be a Columbus,” Williams continued. “You know, Columbus was mistaken where he was going. When he got there, he didn’t know where he was. When he got back, he didn’t know where he’d been and he did it all on borrowed money. Gov. Beshear is the Columbus of state government.”

Beshear, through his campaign spokesman, declined to comment.

“It is too early to start talking about next year's campaign,” said Matt Osborne when asked to respond. “Right now Governor Beshear and (running mate) Mayor (Jerry) Abramson are focused on helping Kentuckians through these tough economic times, and creating and maintaining jobs across the state.”

But out-going Beshear Chief of Staff Adam Edelen had a comeback for Williams.

“I’ll take Columbus over the flat earth,” Edelen said.

Williams has openly talked about running for governor next year, saying he’s in discussions with Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer who Williams wants to be his lieutenant governor running mate.

When news broke Tuesday that Kentucky had once again failed to be named a Race to the Top state, Williams immediately called a press conference in his office, criticizing Beshear and the Democratic House which opposes charter schools.

During that conference, Williams was asked when he would announce if he would run for governor.

“You’ll know sooner rather than later,” Williams said.

Beshear actually preceded Williams on the radio show Tuesday, telling Connell the state will continue to look at charter schools, adding he’d told leaders of the two legislative chambers he would put the question on the agenda for this past May’s special session – if both could agree on legislation.

But House leaders said at the time there is no sentiment for charter schools in that chamber.

Williams said Beshear should have shown more leadership in persuading House opponents and teachers’ groups to support the measure.

“He’s wasn’t for charter schools, he’s never been for charter schools,” Williams said.

Williams, who is from rural Cumberland County in southern Kentucky, went out of his way Wednesday to address concerns specific to Louisville and Jefferson County. He said he will pre-file legislation to overcome a court ruling which said the law allows parents to enroll children in neighborhood schools but not specifically to attend that school. Jefferson County Public Schools operate on a student assignment plan based on income which replaced a previous court ordered de-segregation plan.

He also said he has family ties to the state’s largest urban area.

“The vast majority of folks related to me at least on my father’s side live – and one of them teaches – in Jefferson County,” Williams said on the Louisville radio show.

Beshear, his running mate, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Williams and Farmer are all scheduled to attend the Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair Thursday morning.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort. The Richmond Register is a CNHI newspaper.

Text Only

State News

State lawmakers call for constitutional convention
With U.S. Sen. Rand Paul leading the cheers, the state Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a limited constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
The vote was 22-16 — Republican Sen. Julie Denton of Louisville joined the 15 Democrats in opposing the measure — on the measure sponsored by Senate President and Republican candidate for governor David Williams. The vote followed Paul’s speech to the body and his earlier remarks to the Senate State Government Committee.

February 23, 2011
Company that blundered pollution reports will again test mining sites
The same people blamed for inaccurate pollution reports from mining sites operated by ICG Coal will be responsible for collecting samples under that company’s corrective action plan submitted to the state.
ICG and Frasure Creek Coal entered a consent decree with the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet in December after environmental groups discovered reams of inaccurate pollution reports by the two companies.

February 17, 2011
Immigration bill delay may be about political leverage
The House Local Government Committee conducted a second day of hearings on a Senate immigration bill Wednesday without taking a vote, but the delay may be about political leverage as much as it is about philosophical objections.
The hearing also got testy, when the sponsor, Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, objected to critics who have characterized the measure as racially motivated and after suggestions by one Democrat committee member that another supporter of the bill used “self-righteous and venomous” language in his testimony.

February 10, 2011
House passes immigration bill
The Democrat House overwhelmingly passed its version of immigration control Tuesday while Senate leaders tried and fell short for now to garner enough votes to pass a bill to require a prescription for cold remedies used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The House voted 90-6 to pass HB-3, which would require employers who contract with the state and public agencies to verify the immigration status of new hires using the federal EVerify system. Those who violate the law would be prohibited from securing state contracts for one year after the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would bar contracting with the state for five years.

February 9, 2011
Payday lenders targeted for interest rates
Mary Love doesn’t look the part. A retired pastor and former employee of UPS Logistics from Oldham County, Love, 65, found herself retired, divorced and trying to live off “a small pension.” Soon, she found herself in a “debt trap.”
It began when one month she was a bit short and her rent was due. She visited a “payday lender,” and wrote a $230 check that the lender held for two weeks. She walked out with $200. But two weeks later she owed the lender $230 and still couldn’t make ends meet. This time she wrote a check for $460 and left with $400.

February 8, 2011
State settles case with Medicaid administrator
The third-party administrator for a Medicaid managed care program has agreed to pay more than $2 million in damages for falsely reporting patient results in order to secure a $700,000 bonus payment.
The settlement was the result of a nine-month investigation by the office of Attorney General Jack Conway acting on tips from a whistleblower inside AmeriHealth Mercy, the administrator for Passport Health Plan, the state-funded managed care program which serves clients from Louisville and 15 surrounding counties that has come under scrutiny by the state auditor and lawmakers. The over-reporting of positive health outcomes occurred in 2009, and the state Medicaid fraud statute allows the state to assess the company triple damages, Conway said.

January 27, 2011
Republican primary for governor grows
The Republican primary for governor grew by one on filing deadline day as expected, but Gov. Steve Beshear is getting a free pass in the Democratic primary.
Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and her running mate, retired naval officer and high school teacher Bill Vermillion, filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, promising a competitive race despite a late entry and delayed fundraising start.

January 26, 2011
Williams-Farmer ticket is official
FRANKFORT — Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, and his running mate, Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer, made it official Monday. They filed paperwork to run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

January 19, 2011
Poll: Majority favors state smoking ban
Though advocates of anti-smoking laws don’t believe a statewide smoking ban will pass in the General Assembly this year, they see public support for it and have come to the conclusion that it is time to get the discussion started.

January 14, 2011
Lawmakers consider requiring prescriptions for meth precursors
FRANKFORT — Kentucky ranks No. 3 among 50 states in the number of reported meth labs, which is why lawmakers are considering legislation that would require a prescription to purchase such meth precursors as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

January 14, 2011 1 Photo
More State News Headlines

State News

Search Results

Williams may run for governor

Have you ever attended a meeting of a local government agency or taxing district?

Site Map