We heard from the candidates for state auditor and state treasurer last night on Kentucky tonight.

Renee Shaw asked the candidates for state auditor about their past experiences.

Republican Alison Ball, who is now serving as state treasurer, says she has already been a watchdog of the public's money.

The auditor does just like what it sounds like, it does the honor audits and the auditor is that watchdog on the back.

And once money has been paid in Kentucky, the auditor make sure that money is used correctly.

The processes are correct, and if not, then the auditor makes sure there's accountability for that.

So I've been your watchdog and I ask you, please send me back.

Allow me to be a watchdog again.

I was a prosecutor for four years, so I know how to investigate.

I know how to do deep dives and to be fair, across the board.

I also was a bankruptcy attorney for two years in addition to that.

So I've got a background that has me ready to go to serve you as auditor.

The Democratic candidate, Kimberly Reeder, says she would bring skills proven in the private sector.

I built a successful tax practice over 20 years.

I multibillion dollar corporations consulted with me to help solve difficult problems, and I was named a top ten tax lawyer in the country.

What I bring to the table are a set of professional skills that have been they've been looked over by some in some of the harshest competitive environments and deemed to be worthy of the at the highest levels.

And now I just want to put those skills to use for Kentuckians for All Kentuckians.

The candidates for state Treasurer touched on many topics, including ESG, environmental, social governance.

Should government bodies, including the Commonwealth of Kentucky, make decisions about where to invest money based on companies, environmental and social policies?

Kentucky lawmakers have been critical of investments in companies that favor green technology over fossil fuels like coal.

Republican Mark Metcalf agreed with that criticism.

Green technology has in many respects been a failure.

What I intend to do is champion the is the interests of our of our miners and our our mine operators to see that we are delivering to Kentucky Kentuckians the most affordable energy at the most affordable prices.

That's what we should be doing.

We should be looking.

We should be.

Republicans have advocated a cafeteria plan when it comes to energy, selecting those sources which are most beneficial and least inexpensive to our homeowners and business owners.

It's the smart thing to do, and coal fits in to that mindset or that point of view that says we should be looking at all forms of energy.

The Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer of the Commonwealth and that means you have a fiduciary responsibility.

Anyone who who does investment has worked in banking knows and understands that as a fiduciary you have to look at the whole picture, not just a piece of it.

And I think when we we don't use things like ESG, which the vast majority of people don't realize is is is meant to ensure that we're doing business with people that don't pollute our environment, that are socially responsible, and that they have leadership within their companies that are willing to hold themselves accountable.

And people who are anti ESG are effectively telling you that they're okay with polluting and being socially irresponsible and having CEOs that bail on their company with a golden parachute.

And that's what's that's what's wrong here.

And I think it's a piece of a greater puzzle.

It's not simply to enforce a green energy agenda.

It is something that we look at.

There are plenty of fossil fuel companies that actually do the right things that would qualify highly on ESG scores because they mitigate their impacts and they have leadership that is holding their company accountable for what they're doing.

You can see the full conversations with the candidates for state auditor and state treasurer from last night online on demand at dot org slash k y tonight.