>> Meet the man who want to be the state's top election official.

One already has the job.

The other a former state lawmaker wants to replace him a conversation with Republican incumbent secretary of state Michael Adams and Democrat Charles Buddy Wheelie now on connections.

♪ ♪ ♪ Thank you for joining us for connections today.

I'm Renee Shaw.

We're almost 2 weeks away from Election Day in Kentucky.

And while a lot of attention as on the governor's contest.

>> There are some interesting matchups down ballot today.

We talked to the party nominees for Kentucky, secretary of state.

This office has always been an elected one.

In fact, up until 18, 96, it was appointed by the governor in addition to overseeing elections, the secretary of state deals with business filings in the state public notary commissions and more Kentucky voters will choose between Republican Michael Adams who was elected in 2019 and the seeking a second term.

And Democrat Charles Buddy Wheelie.

I talked a while back with Secretary Adams about why he wants and deserves a second term.

♪ >> Secretary Adams is a pleasure.

Good to be back.

Thanks for that.

Good to see how are things going on the campaign trail?

>> Pretty good.

I'm getting a good reception.

Everywhere I go.

I might a score some counties.

This time I lost last time.

This were my goals which which are are several counties that for Governor Beshear and for my opponent last time up in the pickup, Woodford County, Nicholas County.

I'd love to do better in Jefferson and Fayette as well.

I do think I've got some opportunity in those counties that are more blue or purple.

>> When we get to this point in the election season and by the time, Ms Ayers will be ever closer toward the end of October.

How the polling hours find fascinating.

And I don't know enough about it to know how that works.

You feel good by what you're already seeing?

>> Yeah, we've had a couple of holes and bring a pretty strong position, but they're all undecided people and those people tend to tune in pretty late in the campaign.

Those people disproportionately are independents, independents, to be the least political of this.

And so they tune in pretty late.

And those are the fastest growing voter bloc in Kentucky.

The Independents and they don't have one set of opinions about things.

They have lots of multifarious opinions about lots of So they're difficult group to really understand the successfully.

But to do that, yeah.

>> If you you've talked before, I want to spend a whole lot of time on this because I could go on and on about the how the voter registration has changed to favor Republicans.

There's been that flip, but the independent category is growing and they're now at what, 10, 10%?

>> Yeah, you see, really, really rapid growth among independents.

And that's a pretty significant thing because when you register independent in Kentucky yourself, disenfranchising, you're making it impossible to vote in a primary.

The primaries are getting more and more important.

So that's a big deal.

I do think we should open up our primaries.

Let independent voters vote in those primaries.

Number one, they're paying taxes to pay for these elections and we shouldn't discriminate.

But number 2 would be better for all of us.

If our government had less polarity in it.

And when you have primaries with low turnout and just the most motivated are Sunday's vote, you have extreme outcomes to the source, the outcomes, it's better for all.

This is a polity.

We'll have more cooperation.

I think if we have that leveled a little bit by independent voters as well.

>> Let's talk about you.

Yeah, your background, you do.

You hold the office of Secretary of state current lay.

Why do you want a second term?

Sometimes I'm one of the that's been really hard >> When I run 4 years ago, the number one question I got was was your office do?

That was a fair question because the office to do anything.

>> I've had some crises but also made opportunity out of those crises.

It's very rare to have a secretary of state be a big leader in state government normally is office.

That step stuff inside stuff take.

This is a place to really make significant change in Kentucky.

I've run more legislation.

This accomplished more than arguably the governor, other constitutional officers.

And this is a sleepy office anymore.

We made a point of moral leadership.

I have virtually no power on paper.

All the things that I do that of accomplished in terms of expanding voting rights and improving the process of electing our our candidates.

It's all been through more leadership because I've been willing to challenge my own party on occasion and pulled him in the right direction, but also called the Democrats who did nothing to expand voting rights when they were in the state for 100 years.

>> Yeah.

So let's talk about that.

Some of this was induced.

And let's talk about how you worked with the governor, current governor Andy Beshear to help push some of that along so that people could vote in that critical Twenty-twenty primary.

>> Yeah.

At a time to other states for making it harder to vote in the name of election integrity in other states.

We're dropping basic protocols for election integrity in favor of just letting everybody vote.

We took a middle path and the governor was a good partner in that.

We made sure that we locked down who is voting in our election.

We require people to prove who they were.

But we also expanded voting days, expanded voting methods from the portal, make it easier to apply for your ballot.

Very common sense things.

We did this in a very not a logical way.

And I think it was good to have a Democrat and a Republican table together.

Not just because it meant that we had good policy where both sides are heard out.

But we also offered a better look.

We should voters on both sides of the spectrum during 100 million dollar Senate race for both sides were very a very attentive to the race.

Hey, we got are doing in a fair way.

No one's disenfranchise.

No one's being cheated.

We had an election that Republicans did very well in.

But Democrats didn't think that it was stolen.

It's really important to have both sides together on this stuff.

Yeah.

>> I've heard it described though that during the pandemic voting period that some described it as more of a time lapse rather than a snapshot and voting and even Republicans took their jabs at you for that process.

And then the changes that you wanted to codify and to law or you beyond that.

>> Sort of I've got to I've got a So to get in my office, a nation to myself, I recognize Benedict Adams.

That was my nickname in the capital with Republicans in Twenty-twenty.

They saw me working with a Democrat trying to protect voting rights in this of this guy's a traitor.

But I was proved right by history.

I was proved right that we had an election that was smooth smooth over any other state had conducted.

That didn't fraud.

They came out just fine for people who feel disenfranchised or cheated.

They learned that I was right.

And they actually the passing a lot of what I meant it on an emergency basis.

So, yeah, we're we're past all that.

I did get a primary over it.

But I did pretty well in that one.

I was going to say so you did have some challenge in this recent primary and those contenders were also.

>> Elevating those claims of voter fraud.

And and you, we're above that.

And you came out the victor win.

We constantly still hear about election integrity and security and voter fraud.

Is that a problem at all or in a minuscule amount?

It is a problem.

But here's what it looks like.

>> The notion of of millions of people or hundreds of thousands of people forming conspiracy ensuing election is kind of farcical.

But both from the real thing and here's what it looks like.

It looks like what you saw in Monroe County in the primary last year for Monroe County jailer.

It's 3 things that form a perfect storm.

It's a local offices.

Scott patronage in power.

Contracting power, hiring power.

It's a it's a place with very few voters.

It's a primary election with a low turnout.

It's in a small county or a small town.

And it's a place with a lot of poverty.

And so you can buy a boat for 50 bucks or 100 bucks.

When you have those 3 things.

President, then you have a Monroe County jailers rates.

We have indictments for vote fraud a dolphin county election.

Roughly county election.

We typically see these things in small counties that have high poverty in Ennis, local elections.

It's not national elections are state elections.

So I'm happy about it.

But we are keeping watch for it.

We're whole people account right?

>> And so you have been forthcoming about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election to get flak for that.

>> I do that starting to kind of wear off.

I think when my primary so convincingly was was a factor in that.

But something I'm really proud of.

But also is it important for voters is this race in running has national significance.

I was the first Republican to win a close primary for for this office since 2020 at got beat by people like the one side to run against.

I figured out a way to to survive that if I lose or a fight when, but it's close.

It's going to have national implications because a lot of Republicans around the country running for this office and other offices.

We're really given a shot in the arm.

But the fact that I could find a way to win and it sent a message to other secretaries of state and legislators and others that I can tell the truth about elections in America and survive and maybe even be re-elected.

And so I'm really hopeful that we'll have a strong turnout will be successful in November because it will get a shot in the arm for my style of governing, which is consensus based not just here in Kentucky, but around here.

>> Yeah.

Who would have thought that the secretaries of Secretary of state's office be the most politically dangerous, a Constitutional office of the >> he would have maybe and you did say I remember, you know, your slogan is always make it easier to vote hard to cheat.

And you mentioned, yeah, I remember and I think in the Republican caucus room and the and the Capitol Annex, you're saying that you could be proposing some things that could make you a first term and only term secretary of state.

But who knows right with what we a test to find out.

>> Tell you this in the in May of 2020, we've got a poll that showed that widely 3 or 4 to one independent Democrats approved of me and holdings to the one that proved to And so 3 months in the outermost host politically.

But because we went out there and we address them, it's and we explain how absentee voting was going to work in that primary and how early been was going to work and how it was reliable and secure.

We actually got most Republicans even to vote early and vote absentee.

And if we had an election would have crashed.

So it's a matter in this office, not just a matter of having the right policy despite having the ability to sell the policy, not just to the legislature, but also to the voters and get them to embrace what you're offering.

So they'll use it.

Yeah.

>> And many people would have wanted the the early voting opportunities like we had during the pandemic.

And now there are 3, but that I think maybe perhaps your opponent has some ideas on how that can be addressed.

You did take some flak last year about some moonlighting practicing election law for out of state clients.

Are you still doing that?

Yeah, I I do of.

>> Actually lost millions of by doing this job for Kentucky.

That's fine.

I believe in public service have been given I want to use that, but I've made sure that lose all my income.

Most may come as passive.

It's because I built a national election law practice based on my qualifications and experience.

I push that we're down to other people.

So I don't spend a lot of my own time dealing with this stuff.

I've cleared all the conflicts like it up.

All my Kentucky gave up anything in Kentucky that I would do.

I don't use my law license here for a private work.

It's my DC lessons I use for that.

So I've been very attentive to ethics in this office.

If you look at all the scandals that were here before I took office when the other party are in this office, the corruption mismanagement, people going to federal prison.

It was a mess.

So I would make sure to clean up this office and not let that crowd ever back into this Part of that is leading with integrity.

>> Well, and what you were doing was not illegal.

But there did did raise some ethical questions.

And you feel that you have cleared all of those concerns?

Yeah.

If this commission agrees with me, so as you go into next term and what is your elevator pitch for why Kentuckyian should reelect she was Kentucky's secretary of state.

>> So my opponents to rally signs say fire Michael Adams he's on to something that is the issue in this should be fired or not.

And so I asked voters should be fired.

The guy that say the 2020 election, the first secretary of state to figure out a way to run an election in the pandemic safely and securely to create a model for other states, then borrowed so their voters can vote safely and securely.

She fired the sky.

She fired the guy that brought early voting to Kentucky after the other part of that run this government for 100 years.

Pop the big game about voting rights and did nothing.

Not one thing ever to make it easier to vote in our state.

This guy came in.

Did it should be punished sky kick him out of office should be fired.

The guy that brought paper ballots to Kentucky every single vote cast in November.

We cast on the paper ballot.

So we have the ability to audit and recount.

We have transparency, bolstered confidence in our process should be fired.

The sky.

And again, national implications.

If I am a truth teller, I lose.

It's bad for true telling American I'd say it's in everyone's interests are also part of that.

I see in this job.

>> Well, thank you, Mister Secretary.

It's been a pleasure to sit down with you and onward to November 7 on Friday.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Stay with us on connections as I speak next with former state lawmaker Charles Buddy Wheatley the Democratic nominee for Kentucky.

Secretary of State.

♪ But really it's good to see you.

Well, thank you.

And that is put pleasure.

Spend a little.

>> Well, it's been a little while.

I have to resist the urge to not call you Representative Wheatley.

>> But that's how I came to know use when you spent a couple of terms there and Frankfort, I get called Representative Wheatley Chief.

We leave when to you know, I am Buddy.

Haha, thank you.

Well, it's a pleasure.

So let's talk about let's talk about your days as and the fire department is fire chief because people particularly in your area call you chief, tell us about your background, your professional activities.

>> I did serve 20 years Covington firefighter served as the fire chief.

When I retired, I'm the 4th generation Covington firefighter.

So a public service has been in the family and sort of in Butte in the firm from the very young My family has been in Kentucky, northern Kentucky, 450 years.

I really enjoyed my time on the fire was very involved in the labor union.

That was part of the Covington Fire Department, which got me a little bit interested in the law and the things that were important working conditions.

So I did as I thinking about.

What I was going to have to retire from the fire I went in to law school to finish my law degree from a and K use Chase College of law and one on to be a solo are practicing Gleyber turning from that point forward, which I'm general counsel for the Kentucky Professional firefighters and another on a number of other firefighting unions across the state had me in Frankfort quite a bit.

So that's where things are just right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, before that, you had earned a degree in journalism and had worked as a reporter and the editor of the Kitten County reporter.

>> I'm trying to take my Well, you know what?

I asked about it you know, really was a bit.

>> Fascinating went to University of Kentucky into get my journalism degree and always love to be back in Lexington.

that was really the first taste of politics and covering local government and very interesting.

And but, you know, public surface is a bit of a calling.

And when the fire department came a calling, I said, yes, you know, that is something that would be interesting to me.

And it was no regrets, though, I think of in a journalistic way all of the time when I talked to journalists that I usually have kind of things that like, yeah, that's the fair way of saying it or has it?

>> Well, you are pretty measures and how you speak with people not just to people.

Let's talk about your time in the legislature because you did spend 2 terms there and talk to us about the things that you worked on.

You are very involved in pension discussions and election reform.

I mean, those are some of the things we're still talking about in some way.

>> And it was and it was a issues that initially got me interested in the General Assembly and to get there and help, you know, I was going to be and when I went into the General Assembly, I recognize that it's going to be in the minority party, but it really seemed to be in on partisan issue.

And I like working across the aisle.

I putting heads together and we put together really good group of legislators who worked on a number of pieces of legislation, which I'm proud to say that we don't hear that 2 word phrases, pension crisis quite as much as we used to.

So proud of that work under not that it was over over and there's continuing commitments that need to be made by the state.

look, to put the rest of my pieces of legislation.

There were a lot to do with something that I just recognize when I got to the General Assembly was Kentucky still is a very restrictive state when it comes to voting and access to the polls.

So those are democracy, things that were just really front burner to me.

And I start to to have pieces of legislation I supported actually worked with the governor quite closely on some pieces of legislation is a matter of fact.

We did a little video together about keeping our polls up until 07:00PM.

That was in late February of 2020.

And then the world that yeah.

And then the world changed.

Come March right.

>> And I do want to ask about why Kentucky secretary of state and why now.

Why are you seeking this post?

>> Well, I really am interested Voter turnout in the truest form of a representational democracy.

>> That Kentucky INS can get.

And with that for me, it is about highest voter turnout possible.

Kentucky is still considered one of the hardest places to vote in the country.

My opponent, the incumbent says, you know, he has make it.

He has lifted up the ability to vote, something that hasn't been done for over 100 years with a very low bar and we've not gone very far.

He is in the majority party in.

He's done very little else to open access to the polls.

My pieces of legislation have been about opening access to the polls and we need to do quite a bit of it to modernize our elections and make it available for people to.

Get to the polls, get to the polls on time.

Have plenty of time to do it.

And to have free and fair elections when it comes to the redistricting, a bar of our districts that both for Frankfort and for Washington, D.C., My these were burning issues for me as a state legislator and you know, when the last election happened and that was available, the governor did call and we talked about it quite a bit.

He said, buddy, that can't gerrymander the whole It was a natural fit for me.

Actually something that democracy is just too important and I'm ready to work for.

>> The secretary of state, the current one, Michael Adams has gotten both praise and criticism and for then his own party, right?

There are some who have said that he has been too lenient when it comes to allowing greater access to the polls and didn't necessarily agree with some of those pandemic measures that had a little legs to them afterwards, given that he is seemingly regarded on both sides of the aisle as someone who was an independent thinker, moderate, how are you trying to position yourself as his opposite and better than what he could do in that office right now.

>> Well, here's what I know about Michael items and what many people are starting to recognize about Michael Adams there is a there.

It was a very low bar to braced to our elections.

And Michael Adams was part of a piece of legislation that I was very involved in to ensure or to make sure that it was a bipartisan piece of legislation because it was moving the ball forward.

But we didn't move it.

They're very far forward.

We could have had more days of early voting.

I've promoted to full weeks of early the voting that 21 2021 piece of legislation included 2 full weeks until late in the negotiations or discussions about the bill and I have to say Michael items caved on that and we could have had 2 weeks at that time.

We've also could have had later registration, voter registration.

We still are one of the most restrictive states.

28 days before the election, you have to be registered by when many states have same day voter registration.

There are other things about Michael items you know what we but I've been most critical of this is outside work.

So he's still full managing partner of the national elections.

Partisan law firm that works for political operatives for the most part.

And he does this, you know, to help fund his campaign.

He's a cell funding Those are things that, you know, I don't think he's paying full attention to what's going Kentuckyian I will all be a full-time secretary of state set aside my law practice to work 100% in a non-partisan way for all Kentucky INS turn my time as secretary of state in.

>> As you Mister Wheatley there.

There has been some resurface of an incident involving you in 2008 when your Covington fire chief and which you or in an accident and of in a city-owned vehicle and had been drinking beforehand.

Can you set this record straight on what happened then and how what were the consequences of your actions >> well, it was a accident that took place 15 years ago.

Michael Adams has been misleading people for quite a while.

He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of other things to criticize me about that.

15 years ago, I ran off the side of the road, took responsibility for an accident have been elected to times as a state representative for this issue has come up.

It really isn't more than that.

You know, we have a lot going on right now that Michael Adams is doing that.

I can be critical of and I will be critical of that are not getting done as secretary of state because I don't think he's dedicating his full-time to it.

Part-time secretary of state.

And we're talking about an incident that was 15 years ago took responsibility for it and moved on and the voters have shown that that is a responsible way to handle it.

And that's really the all there is about right.

>> Maybe you did to have some consequences of And you correct me if I'm wrong on any of this two-week suspension without pay as fire chief restitution for the vehicle that was totaled in the accident and the revocation of a slated merit base pay raise over one and a quarter percent and a written reprimand or personnel files.

All of that is for public record to see for those, though, who wonder about judgment and making that action to join before getting into a public, a vehicle been people would question your judgment.

And if 15 years later they can trust you to handle the duties and the property in and your discretion as secretary of state.

What would you say to them?

Well, let's say I took responsibility for something that happened at something that Michael Adams And I would say.

>> You know, I've never had any charge related to this incident.

This wasn't an employment action and never had anything since then.

Since then, no criminal action with someone before for the incident or after said no DUI and those EU, I know charge I've never had for any issue DUI related or not car related or not.

It was a very isolated issue.

And I can tell you this that, you know, as the fire chief, you're always in a city vehicle and I was at a family event.

Was there the whole time with family?

And that's really what happened.

You know, I took a our way home that I usually ride my bike and that's of windy.

The country road.

And I went off to the side of the road.

That's really everything that happened.

>> So as you approach these last few weeks of the campaign, which I know you're probably thrilled about in many ways, what is it?

You're communicating not just about you and the office you're seeking, but about the entire Democratic ticket and what Democrats can offer Kentucky ends at this time when there is diminished power of the of the Democratic Party in the state.

>> Well, it's an honor to be on this ticket with Governor Andy Beshear, who has shown his commitment to first of all, the state has compassion, his empathy, everything that he has shown as a human being and the leader that he's been.

But that's yeah, even not to say the great economic growth that we've had and we've had an incredible job creation.

So very proud of that very looking forward to working with the governor's office on that.

You know, there is a delay and business filings and a backlog in the business filings, you know, related to the portal that I'll take care of U.S., Secretary of state and be a partner with the governor, but proud to be on this ticket.

We have strong candidates up and down the ballot and I just have to say you know, that we are a party with vision moving the state forward, not a party of division, not running right to raise that way.

We're looking to really be partners with the governor in Frankfort and there are many ways that we can be moving the state forward.

And that's really what I hope to do is Secretary of State.

>> Well, thank you, Mister.

We Leah still want to say representative or chief either one.

We appreciate you stopping by.

Thank you.

Renee is always a pleasure.

>> Thanks so much for watching connections today.

Stay plugged in to election news each week night on KET Turkey Edition at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central and connect with me on all the social media channels you see on your screen and do I see you again?

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