[♪♪] >> Bill: THE 2023 ELECTION IS DECIDED.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR LOOKS AHEAD AFTER WINNING REELECTION OVER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON.

REPUBLICANS SWEEP OTHER OFFICES AS MANY KEN KEN VOTERS OBVIOUSLY SPLIT THEIR TICKETS.

MICHAEL ADAMS GOT MORE VOTES THAN ANYONE IN THE ELECTION AND HAS A FRESH PROPOSAL FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

MORE FRUSTRATION IN LOUISVILLE OVER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND A MAJOR FOCUS ON THIS WEEK'S ELECTION RESULTS, WITH KEY POLITICAL REPORTERS WHO COVERED THE RACES.

SO THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR THE WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND JOE SONKA ENTERPRISE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION RESTARTS ITS SEARCH FOR A FIRM TO LOOK FOR A NEW COMMISSIONER.

BUT, FIRST, KENTUCKY STATE-WIDE ELECTIONS ARE OVER AND IT WILL BE GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WHO TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE ON INAUGURATION DAY DECEMBER 12TH.

THE RACE WAS TOUGH AND TENSE AT TIMES.

BUT IN THE END, DANIEL CAMERON WAS GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT AND BESHEAR WAS FORWARD LOOKING IN VICTORY.

>> AS I CALLED THE GOVERNOR TO CONGRATULATE HIM, I KNOW FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND FROM ALL OF OUR PERSPECTIVES THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE WANT A BETTER COMMONWEALTH.

ONE IN WHICH IT CAN ULTIMATELY BE A SHINING CITY ON A HILL.

A MODEL AND EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE NATION TO FOLLOW.

AND SO AS I DID WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR, I WANT ALL OF US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THESE NEXT FEW DECADES WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> FOLKS, THIS WASN'T MY WIN.

THIS WAS OUR VICTORY.

[CHEERING] IT WAS A VICTORY THAT SENDS A LOUD, CLEAR MESSAGE, A MESSAGE AT THAT TIME CANDIDATES SHOULD RUN FOR SOMETHING AND NOT AGAINST SOMEONE.

THAT A CANDIDATE SHOULD SHOW VISION AND NOT SEW DIVISION.

AND A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT ANGER POLITICS SHOULD END RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: TALK ABOUT HOW IT ALL HAPPENED THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE RACE IN KENTUCKY HISTORY, THE CANDIDATES DID MORE DEBATES.

THEY BOTH DID BUS CARAVANS AND BROUGHT GUEST AS LONG AS THE CAMPAIGN WRAPPED UP.

IN THE END A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

HOW DID BESHEAR PULL OFF THIS VICTORY?

>> IT'S LIKE A MOSAIC APPROACH.

THERE'S A BUNCH OF ASPECTS, ABORTION, EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND YOU KNOW YOU SAW IN HIS COMMENTS HE WAS ABLE TO BE VERY POSITIVE AND THAT IS A LUXURY OF THE INCUMBENT ESPECIALLY WHEN MOST VOTERS THINK THINGS ECONOMICALLY ARE GOING WELL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS OF BOTH THE GENERAL ELECTION AND THE PRIMARY, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WHERE DANIEL CAMERON WON IN A LANDSLIDE FASHION.

IS THAT IT'S REALLY, REALLY TOUGH TO BEAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS BUILT AN ORGANIC CELEBRITY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY ADS.

THE ADS HELPED BESHEAR IN HIS WIN.

BUT HE IS SOMEBODY WHO WAS ON TV CONSTANTLY.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO PEOPLE KNEW BECAUSE HE EARNED IT QUOTE-UNQUOTE.

AND IN THE SAME WAY THAT DANIEL CAMERON KIND OF HAD THAT CELEBRITY IMPACT AMONG REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN KENTUCKY.

HE DID THE RNC SPEECH.

HE HAD THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

BESHEAR WAS JUST SOMEBODY THAT PEOPLE KNEW.

AND THEY THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD GUY.

AND NOT TO UNDER PLAY ANY OF THE ASPECTS OF HIS CAMPAIGN, BUT TO ME THAT'S WHAT I THINK STOOD OUT THE MOST FROM BESHEAR'S WIN.

>> Bill: JOE?

>> AND BESHEAR HAD NEAR UNIVERSAL SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS.

BUT THE WHOLE KEY TO THIS RACE WAS THAT BLOCK OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD USUALLY VOTE REPUBLICAN, A SIZABLE MINORITY OF THEM WHO KEPT TELLING POLLSTERS THEY APPROVE OF THE JOB THAT BESHEAR WAS DOING.

AND THEY APPROVED IN THE POLLS UP UNTIL THE PRIMARY AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT WOULD $20 MILLION OF PAC ADDS HITTING BESHEAR OVER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS PUT A DENT IN THAT SUPPORT STPH-PB WE SAW ALL THE DOWN BALLOT REPUBLICANS WINNING BY THE TYPICAL MARGINS THAT REPUBLICANS WIN IN KENTUCKY 15-20% AND BESHEAR WINNING A CLOSE ONE BUT COMFORTABLY, 5% WELL OVER 60,000 VOTES.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY THAT ALL OF THAT EFFORT TO PUT A DENT INTO THE SUPPORT OF THOSE USUAL TYPICALLY VOTING REPUBLICAN VOTING KENTUCKIANS JUST DIDN'T WORK.

>> Bill: I GUESS IT'S UNKNOWN WHETHER IT MAY HAVE SUPPRESSED THE TURNOUT WITH THE NEGATIVE ADS.

>> IT COULD HAVE.

TURNOUT WAS 38%.

CERTAINLY COULD HAVE PLAYED A ROLL IN DEPRESSING TURNOUT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THE POLLS BESHEAR WAS THEIR FAVORITE.

>> Bill: MARK YOUR TAKE?

>> YOU CAN TAKE ABOUT NAME RECOGNITION OR ADVERTISEMENTS BUT I THINK JOB PERFORMANCE IS KEY.

IF HE REALLY DID A TERRIBLE JOB HE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN 52.5% OF THE VOTE.

I THINK VOTERS HAD A PERFECTLY GOODALL TERNE ACTIVE, DANIEL CAMERON WAS A GOOD CANDIDATE WHO ROONE A GOOD CAMPAIGN AND IF BESHEAR DID A TERRIBLE JOB, CAMERON WOULD BE IN OFFICE.

>> Bill: WAS IT THE COVID AND DISASTER RESPONSES IN THE END ARE NOT TOO DISTANT PAST AND WE'RE STILL FRONT OF MIND FOR VOTERS?

>> WELL THAT IS PROBABLY HIGHLY DEBATABLE.

BUT I THINK THAT IN THE END, 52.5% OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED, VOTED FOR ANDY BESHEAR.

SO THEY MUST HAVE THOUGHT THAT HE DID A GOOD JOB WITH THE PANDEMIC.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, SPECIFICALLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, THE SEVEN COUNTY WHERE BESHEAR DID THE BEST IN INCREASING HIS PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE FOR THE LAST TIME IN 2019 THEY WERE ALL IN COAL COUNTRY ALL COUNTIES IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD PART OF THE FEDERAL DISASTER AREA.

AND TWO KEY ONES THE ONES WERE PERRY COUNTY, TWO COUNTIES THAT BESHEAR LOST BY 8 POINTS TO MATT BEVIN IN 2019.

HE WINS BOTH EASILY THIS TIME.

SO OBVIOUSLY BESHEAR SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOWN THERE.

PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WHO COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW OFTEN THEY SAW BESHEAR DOWN THERE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE OF THOSE COUNTIES WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN HIM VICTORIES OR MOVED SO MUCH IN HIS DIRECTION IF THEY DIDN'T THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB.

>> Bill: HE DID CARRY GRAVES COUNTY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY MAYFIELD IS THE SEAT AND WAS HIT BY THE TORNADO SITUATION THERE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO MAKE WHEN WE'RE -- NOT THAT WE SHOULD COMPARE DISAS PERS, BUT WHAT A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, THE TORNADOES I THINK EVERYBODY SORT OF BUNCHES THE TORNADOES AND THE FLOODS TOGETHER BECAUSE BOTH WITH HISTORIC, DEADLY EVENTS.

BUT THE FLOODS DID HAPPEN IN SUMMER OF 2022, COMPARED TO THE TORNADO WHICH HAPPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2021.

WHICH I THINK IS A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE.

NOW, HE DID IMPROVE HIS MARGIN IN GRAVES COUNTY.

HE IMPROVED HIS MARGIN LIKE MOST PLACES, ASIDE FROM A POCKET OF NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND SORT OF LIKE A BAND OF SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

SO REALLY, I MEAN, WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME THE MOST, WAS THIS RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS.

LIKE HE JUST SORT OF IMPROVED PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE.

AND THAT'S TOUGH TO BEAT.

>> YOU HAVE TO ALSO LOOK AT IN GRAVES COUNTY THE WORST DAMAGE HAPPENED IN MAYFIELD.

THE MAYOR OF MAYFIELD IS A DEMOCRAT.

WHEN YOU GO TO DOWNTOWN MAYFIELD, IT IS STILL NOT REBUILT YET.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DEMOCRATS IN MAYFIELD IN GRAVES COUNTY ARE PROBABLY LIVING IN PLACES LIKE McCRACKEN COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

>> IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTIES FOR BESHEAR IN TERMS OF MOVING HIS PERCENTAGE FROM THE LAST RACE AND HOPKINS AND CALDWELL COUNTY WHERE DAWSON SPRINGS IS PRINCETON THEY WERE HIT HARD BY THE TORNADO TWO OF BESHEAR'S BEST COUNTIES, THEY WERE RED COUNTIES THAT STILL CAMERON WON.

HE GAINED A LOT OF VOTES THERE.

>> Bill: LET'S LOOK AT THIS FROM A STANDPOINT OF THE MAP.

CLEARLY, THE URBAN RURAL DIVIDE WAS ON DISPLAY.

THE MARGINS WERE BIGGER FOR BESHEAR IN LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE.

I THINK 71% OF THE VOTE WENT TO BESHEAR IN LEXINGTON.

AND OTHER PLACES.

IT WAS ALSO CLEAR THAT CAMERON WAS NOT GETTING THE MARGINS HE NEEDED TO WIN IN THE COUNTIES HE DID CARRY.

>> RIGHT.

EARLY ON, BASED ON BOTH THE NUMBERS COMING IN AND WHAT I WAS HEARING, LAUREL COUNTY AND PHRA LASKI COUNTY TWO OF THE POPULOUS RUBY RED CENTERPIECES OF THAT REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO, THE TURNOUT WAS JUST PRETTY LOW AND THE MARGINS WEREN'T REALLY WHAT THEY NEEDED TO BE EITHER.

AND SAME WITH BOON COUNTY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHICH IS ANOTHER CAN OF WORMS.

BUT STILL THESE BASE PARTS OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE, ASIDE FROM MONROE COUNTY, SIMPSON COUNTY, THE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN RED THEY DID GAIN FOR LOCAL REASONS.

THERE WAS A WET-DRY VOTE IN MONROE COUNTY.

BUT REALLY THE PLACES WHERE HE NEEDED TO DO REALLY WELL AND BETTER THAN BEVIN, HE JUST DIDN'T.

>> Bill: YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE FIELD, MARK, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF TICKET SPLITTING GOING ON ON TUESDAY?

>> DEFINITELY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTIES WHERE DANIEL CAMERON WON BIG HE DID WIN REALLY BIG.

HE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THOSE COUNTIES WHERE HE WON REALLY BIG.

IT'S FASCINATING ALSO THAT HE HAD 77,000 FEWER VOTES THAN BEVIN?

SO IT WAS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WERE VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS AND ALL THE DOWN BALLOT RACES JUST NOT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY TYPICALLY A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD, BOONE COUNTY AND CAMPBELL COUNTY, EIGHT YEARS AGO, MATT BEVIN IN THE FIRST RUN WON THOSE THREE COUNTIES WITH 16,000-VOTE MARGIN.

THIS YEAR BESHEAR WON BY 500 VOTES.

THAT IS A HUGE SWING.

>> Bill: IS IT FAIR THROWN IN WITH THE URBAN VOTE IN ADDITION TO LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON ARE NOW THE LARGE TOWNS FROM RICHMOND AND TPRART FOR THE AND BOWLING GREEN AND THOSE TYPES OF PLACES?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THAT IS 10% OF THE VOTE RIGHT THERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THOSE THREE COUNTIES.

YOU HAVE RICHMOND GROWING AND MADISON BESHEAR DID WELL IN MADISON COUNTY.

GEORGETOWN IS GROWING VERY FAST.

BESHEAR DID WELL HE WON BY 10% IN SCOTT COUNTY.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING THE MARGIN TO BE THAT GOOD.

ANY TYPE OF AREA LIKE THAT BESHEAR DID REALLY WELL.

>> Bill: DID AN ISSUE TURN THINGS ABORTION CERTAINLY WAS ONE THAT HAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE NAME ID AND BEING PRESENT IN A POSITIVE SORT OF PERSON OF ANDY, RIGHT HE WAS KNOWN AS ANDY AND NOT BESHEAR HELPED HIM ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT IN THE URBAN CENTERS, DRILLING IN IN AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION, I THINK SOLIDIFIED TURNOUT.

AND ONE POINT, IN GENERAL, THE DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING A HARD IN THIS RESULT FOR OTHER OFFICES, STATE LEGISLATIVE, IF YOU MAP THE STATE HOUSE MAP ON TO THE BESHEAR RESULT YOU GET A 50/50 HOUSE WHICH IS A FAR CRY FROM THE 80/20 REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY THAT WE HAVE NOW.

THAT SAID, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY BOTHER TO LEARN MUCH ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS AND USUALLY JUST VOTE WITH THE SAME PARTY THAT THEY ARE VOTING PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS.

SO THERE IS A LOT TO TAKE HEART IN FOR DEMOCRATS.

BUT IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO UNTIL YOU GET TO 50/50.

>> Bill: AND THE LEGISLATIVE SHRAEUR IS 80-20.

HOW WILL BESHEAR AND THE LEGISLATURE MOVE FORWARD, SAID THE LEGISLATURE WILL FOLLOW ITS OWN PATH.

MAJORITY LEADER WAS MUCH MORE POINTED AND SAID THAT HE WILL MAKE SURE THAT BESHEAR HAS A DIFFICULT SECOND TERM.

>> I THINK BESHEAR AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOME THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF ANOTHER BIG EMPLOYER COMES TO THE STATE LIKE FORD DID, OF COURSE, THEY ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT I THINK ON SOME THINGS LIKE THERE WAS A THEORY THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PASSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND SPORTS BETTING, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO SAY I SUPPORTED IT BUT THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS IT TRUE OR NOT, IF IT IS BESHEAR IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT LEVERAGE BECAUSE HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR ANYTHING.

NOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE, PRESIDENT ONE DAY MAYBE.

MAYBE.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE REPUBLICANS BEAT HIM UP A LITTLE BIT OVER THE NEXT TERM SO THAT HE COMES OUT OF THE SECOND TERM MORE BATTERED AND BRUISED THAN THE FIRST TERM.

>> YEAH, AND ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT I THINK I HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE, IS IN THE FIRST TERM, YOU HAD HISTORICAL HORSERACING.

YOU HAD MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND SPORTS BETTING ISSUES WHERE DEMOCRATS NEEDED TO BUY IN.

YOU NEEDED THE 30, 25, 20 DEMOCRATS TO COSIGN IT.

WHAT IS THAT ISSUE NOW?

I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.

BESHEAR'S MENTIONED TEACHER RAISES, UNIVERSAL PRE-K THOSE ARE BOTH THINGS THAT THE REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE HASN'T EXPRESSED ANY INTEREST IN PURSUING.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE LEGISLATIVE WIN FOR BESHEAR?

I THINK THAT IS A BIG QUESTION HANGING OVER THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> I DON'T THINK THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED THE REPUBLICAN LEG IS SHRAEUR THEY HAVE GAINED 80%.

AND BESHEAR WON A COMFORTABLE VICTORY HE HAS HIGH APPROVALS AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM BEING PRESIDENT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> DO YOU PERCEIVE CHANGE IN THE BESHEAR IN THE SECOND ADMINISTRATION.

>> THEY PROBABLY VIEW IT AS THEY'VE JUST HAD THIS BIG REELECTION SUCCESS SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF NEED TO SWITCH IT UP.

YOU DO HAVE HIGH LEVEL PEOPLE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO MIGHT WANT TO GO ON TO DO OTHER THINGS, WHO HAVE RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE.

WHETHER THAT'S ROCKY ATKINS AS A SENIOR ADVISER OR JIM GRAY THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY.

SO THAT MIGHT BE ONE THING TO LOOK AT.

>> Bill: LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THAT.

AUSTIN, THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISER ROCKY ATKINS CAMPAIGNED HARD WITH BESHEAR.

HE IS A GOOD SPEAKER OBVIOUSLY.

AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE NEXT GOVERNOR'S RACE, HE MADE COMMENTS LIKE THERE'S STILL GASOLINE LEFT IN THE TANK.

>> YEAH, I TAKE THAT COMMENT TO MEAN THAT HE'S TOTALLY LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO RUN FOR SOMETHING.

NOW WHAT THAT SOMETHING IS, IS KIND OF INTRIGUING.

YOU KNOW THE DEMOCRATS SORT OF HAVE A BLESSING AND A CURSE OF THE BENCH FOR HIGHER OFFICE IS SIMPLE TO THINK ABOUT.

THERE'S NOT MUCH INFIGHTING TO BE HAD BUT THE TWO NAMES YOU THINK ABOUT ARE ROCKY ATKINS AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT ROCKY RUNS FOR GOVERNOR IN 2027 AS SOME PEOPLE SPECULATED OR MIGHT HE RUN FOR AN OFFICE LIKE SENATE SINCE HE HAS MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT CREDENTIALS OR IN THAT SAME QUOTE, HE MENTIONED ALL THE EASTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES THAT MADE HIM HAPPY TO SEE THE MARGINS CHANGE AND FLIP.

COULD HE RUN FOR AN OFFICE LIKE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5?

HAL ROGERS OFFICE HAS BEEN HELD BY A REPUBLICAN BUT THERE ARE A GOOD AMOUNT OF ANCESTRAL GEMS AND HE IS A POLITICAL CELEBRITY.

>> Bill: JOE MEN STHOPBED JIM GRAY.

WHERE MIGHT HE GO IF HE HAD AN INTEREST?

>> HE'S RUN FOR TWO OFFICES BEFORE.

THE SIXTH DISTRICT WHICH IS OCCUPIED BY ANDY BAR WHO HAS WON BY BIG MARGINS IN THE PAST THE PAST TWO ELECTIONS.

SO COULD JIM GRAY SEE AN OPENING IF ANDY BAR WERE TO PURSUE SOMETHING ELSE OR DECIDE HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ELSE?

MAYBE.

OR DOES JIM GRAY JUST WANT TO HE'S LIKE A QUICK SODIC INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE SOMETIMES BUT HE ALSO HAS A GREAT GIG.

SO I THINK HE IS SOMEBODY TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> Bill: YOU ARE NOT PUTTING HIM IN NEXT YEAR'S SIXTH DISTRICT RACE?

>> NO.

BUT CERTAINLY IT'S -- >> YOU MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHEN YOU ARE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY GIVING OUT THE MONEY.

>> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECT RUSSEL COLEMAN NAMED HIS TRANSITION CO-CHAIRS AND U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT ROB DUNKIN' AND WILL SCHROEDER WILL LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR COLEMAN.

AND YOU MARK, YOU GET THE FEELING THIS IS WHAT MAKES RUSSRIES TICK HE IS READY TO GET TO WORK?

>> WHEN HE WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY HE WAS VERY HANDS ON TALKING TO PROSECUTENERS THAT OFFICE, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE OFFICE WIDE STRATEGY AND HE WAS VISIBLE IN LOUISVILLE.

HE WOULD HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES MUCH MORE REGULARLY THAN HIS PREDECESSOR.

AND HE WAS THE KIND OF GUY THAT LOVED TO BRING THE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TOGETHER AND BRING THEM UP ON STAGE IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF WE SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> Bill: MICHAEL ADAMS WAS THE LEADING VOTE GETTER IN THE ELECTION HE TOLD ME THAT EARLY VOTING WORKS AND HE WILL ASK LEGISLATURE FOR MORE MONEY TO PROMOTE EARLY VOTING.

>> I AM GOING TO ASK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR MY OFFICE FOR THE COUNTY CLERKS FOR US TO PROMOTE EARLY VOTING.

I DON'T CARE WHAT DAY SOMEONE VOTES IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME.

BUT IT DOES MAKE FOR A SMOOTHER ELECTION IF YOU CAN HAVE MORE VOTES BANKED EARLY AND NOT ALL CAST ON THE SAME DAY.

WE MIGHT HAVE TWO MILLION PEOPLE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO FIT TWO MILLION PEOPLE INTO FOUR DAYS IT WILL BE HARDER IF THEY WAIT TO THE LAST DAY.

>> Bill: A BIG ELECTION WIN FOR ADAMS AND HE IS LEANING INTO EARLY VOTING OBVIOUSLY.

ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THE TURNOUT WILL BE HIGHER NEXT YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ADAMS AND SPEAKING OF TURNOUT ADAMS WAS ABLE TO TURNOUT MORE VOTERS THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE ANYMORE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT.

AND I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING THAT DEMOCRATS DIDN'T HAVE COATTAILS DOWN BALLOT BUT ADAMS MIGHT HAVE BECAUSE BESHEAR WAS ONE OF THE STARS OF HIS LAST ADS AND ADAMS TOLD ME TODAY THAT WHILE PEOPLE ARE POLARIZED POLITICALLY IN THE COUNTRY THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT MIDDLE OF VOTERS IN KENTUCKY.

AND HE'S WARNED THAT REPUBLICANS CAN'T IGNORE THOSE KEY VOTERS IN THE MIDDLE.

HE SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE A FUTURE CANDIDATE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WOULD BE A GOOD GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE TO PUT OUT THERE.

>> Bill: PROBABLY LIKELY WILL BE.

MARK, THE NEXT AUDITOR WILL BE THE TREASURER ALLISON BALL AND YOU HAVE FOLLOWED HER AND TALKED WITH HER.

SHE SEES OPPORTUNITY IN THIS OFFICE?

>> YES, SHE TOLD ME SHE IS GOING TO AUDIT JCPS AND THE EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY RELIEF FUNDS.

AND YOU COULD CERTAINLY ARGUE THAT THOSE AUDITS WOULD BE GOOD TRANSPARENCY.

THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR POLITICIZATION BUT I THINK WE WILL SEE HER PURSUE BOTH OF THOSE.

>> Bill: REPUBLICAN JONATHAN SHELL WON THE RACE FOR AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER AND MARK METCALF ALREADY THE NEXT STATE TREASURER.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM AND HEARING WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING AHEAD.

IT WAS EASY WINS FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN BOTH OF THOSE RACES.

OHIO LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA TUESDAY, MEAN TO GO WILL BE LEGAL ACROSS THE RIVER.

DOES THAT CAUSE SOME CONVERSATIONS IN KENTUCKY INCLUDING SOME WHO THEY EVEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA WAS A SLIPPERY SLOPE AND THAT THIS WILL NOW BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA SAYING THIS IS HOW FAR I'M WILLING TO GO I'M NOT WILLING TO GO FULL-BLOWN RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

SO WHEREAS USED TO BE THAT KENTUCKY WAS SURROUNDED BY OTHER STATES DOING MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOW WE'VE LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND WE'LL GET THAT IN ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

NOW, IT MAY BE THE CASE WHERE RECREATIONAL STATES ARE SURROUNDING KENTUCKY WHILE WE ARE THE HOLD OUT WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> Bill: A STORY FROM THE KENTUCKY LANTERN ARE INVESTIGATING CONTRIBUTIONS BY LONDON MAYOR TO THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN.

>> SO, THIS IS THE LONDON MAYOR WHO IS A REPUBLICAN WHO DONATED I THINK MORE THAN $300,000 TO BESHEAR AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WHICH IS THE MAIN GROUP FUNDING THE BIGGEST PAC THAT IS BACKING BESHEAR RIGHT NOW.

BUT 202,000 OF THOSE DOLLARS WERE MADE AS CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER OTHER PEOPLE'S NAMES WITH HIS CREDIT CARD.

AND THE STEP THAT THEY TOOK THIS WEEK WAS OFFICIALLY ALLEGING HIM OF BREAKING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION LIMITS IN OUR STATE.

IT'S ONLY $2100 PER PERSON.

AND 2200 IS MORE.

>> WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCRAPPING THE PROPOSALS IT RECEIVED FOR A SEARCH FIRM FOR EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THE BOARD APPARENTLY DID NOT LIKE WHAT IT SAW, I GUESS IN THOSE WHO APPLIED, RIGHT?

>> AND THEY DIDN'T GIVE US DETAILS, EITHER.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT THE FIRM THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO GET SOMEBODY IN HERE ONCE THEY FIND A PERSON BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN SENATE AND ALSO HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO THE BOARD LIKES.

>> Bill: THREAD THAT NEEDLE.

MARK SCHOOL BUS ISSUES CONTINUING IN LOUISVILLE AS DO THE FRUSTRATIONS.

>> THE ISSUES NEVER WENT AWAY BUT WERE EXACERBATED WHEN THE BUS DRIVERS TWO DAYS OF SICK OUTS ON A FRIDAY AND THE MONDAY.

TO CALL ATTENTION TO DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS ON THE BUSES.

WE'VE HEARD HORROR STORIES FROM BUS DRIVERS AND IT IS NOT ALL THE KIDS IT IS IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT BUT THAT IS ALL IT TAKES TO DISTRACTED A DRIVER AND IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU WILL SEE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THOSE DISCIPLINE ISSUES.

>> Bill: THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY WASHINGTON DELEGATION ANNOUNCED HIS REELECTION BID MORGAN McGARVEY WAS ELECTED IN 2022 AFTER SERVING A DECADE IN THE SENATE AND HE HAS HE IS NOT DONE YET.

IT APPEAR McGARVEY'S IN A STRONG POSITION GOING INTO THE ELECTION YEAR INTEREST HE WON THE LAST ELECTION WITH 62% OF THE VOTE HE HAS $750,000 RIGHT NOW.

HE REMAINS HIGHLY VISIBLE.

I THINK HE'S IN QUITE A GOOD POSITION.

>> AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER ANY REPUBLICAN IN LOUISVILLE IS GOING TO STEP UP AND TAKE HIM ON WHO HAS ANY CREDIBILITY OR VIABILITY AS A CANDIDATE.

>> Bill: ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY WEEKEND REMINDED OF THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

THERE ARE ALSO FRUSTRATIONS IN FRANKFORT WITH SOME FAMILIES TELLING THEIR STORIES ABOUT VETERAN'S AFFAIRS ISSUE IN THE STATE?

>> RIGHT WE SAW IN A COMMITTEE MEETING SOME FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN IN V.A.

ELDERCARE OF SOME KIND OR AT LEAST OLDER PEOPLE WITH THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE V.A.

AND THE STATE, AND THOSE ARE REALLY EFFECT ACTIVE.

I WOULDN'T -- NEGATIVE.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE MOVEMENT BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: A LOT OF ISSUES TO COME IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

CAMPBELLSVILLE VICAR UNIVERSITY AWARDED A DOCTORATE OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BAM CARNEY.

HE EARNED DEGREES FROM EKU AND TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2008.

CARNEY WAS A REPUBLICAN: WHO IN FRANKFORT CHAMPIONED EDUCATION ISSUES.

HE DIED IN 2021 AFTER A LONG I WILLNESS.

>> AND RENEE SHAW WAS INDUCTED IN WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY'S HALL OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI THIS WEEK.

SHAW HOSTS KET'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS FRAMES "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AND KENTUCKY EDITION.

SHE EARNED BOTH A BACHELORS IN BROADCASTING AND A MASTERS IN COMMUNICATION FROM WKU.

ON THIS WEEKEND, WE HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR VETERANS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD VOTE THIS WEEK AND WHO HAVE PROTECTED OUR RIGHTS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.