[♪♪] >> Bill: OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE ALREADY WITH MORE ROLLING IN.

BESHEAR PROMISES TO SERVE A FULL SECOND TERM IF REHE WILL ELECTED.

THE CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TANGLE.

SOME KENTUCKIANS SCRAMBLE HOME FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND OTHERS REACT TO THE VIOLENCE THERE.

AUTO WORKERS GO ON STRIKE AT THE FORD PLANT IN LOUISVILLE.

ON THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH, 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 ANALYST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFORT BRUR ROW CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

JOE SONKA CHIEF FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL AND CHRIS OTTS REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

THE GROUP RECOMMENDS THAT LOUISVILLE'S ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND METRO COUNCIL GO NONPARTISAN.

AND DID Dr. RYAN QUARELS WIN BY LOSING HIS RACE FOR GOVERNOR?

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE FACT THAT THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS STRIKE HAS COME TO KENTUCKY.

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS ARE OUT ON THE PICKET LINE.

CHRIS, WHY DID THIS NEW CHAPTER COME ABOUT PULLING THE KENTUCKY WORKERS INTO THE STRIKE?

>> THIS STRIKE BEGAN ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND THE UAW HAS TAKEN AN UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH.

THEY ARE NOT DOING A BLANKET STRIKE OF ALL THE AUTOMAKERS.

INSTEAD, THEY HAVE OPTED FOR THIS STRATEGY OF TURNING ON THE HEAT A LITTLE BIT AND THEN TURNING IT UP, TURNING IT UP.

STARTING WITH A FEW PLANTS ADDING MORE AND BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED, BILL, THIS WEEK, YOU GET DIFFERENT STORIES DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK TO.

AS TO WHERE THE STATUS OF THE TALKS WERE BETWEEN FORD AND THE UAW.

BUT THE UAW LEADERSHIP GOT FED UP WITH THE PROGRESS.

AND THEY SAID OK NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO SHOW HOW SERIOUS WE ARE AND MAKE FORD FEEL THE PAIN.

SO KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AUTO FACTORIES IN THE WORLD.

EVERY 37 SECONDS A VEHICLE ROLLS OFF THE LINE THERE.

THESE ARE BIG F SERIES TRUCKS THAT CAN SELL FOR SIX FIGURES.

MANY OF THEM DO.

AS WELL AS LARGE AND PROFITABLE VUMENTS THAT ARE MADE THERE.

IT'S FORD'S BIGGEST PLANT, 9 THIN,000 PEOPLE AND IT SERVES OTHER PLANTS INCLUDING THE OTHER FORD PLANT IN LOUISVILLE.

SO THE DECISION TO TAKE OUT KENTUCKY TRUCK IS A SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION IN THE AUTO STRIKE AND INDICATES THAT THE UAW IS TRYING TO PRESS FOR FASTER PROGRESS IN THE TALKS.

>> Bill: YOU HAD SAID THAT SOME HAD REFERRED TO IT AS THE NUCLEAR OPTION IF THEY CAME TO INVOLVE THE LOUISVILLE PLANT?

>> YES.

THAT IS WHAT SOME ANALYSTS WERE SAYING.

THE PLANTS THEY'VE PICKED SO FAR FOR SURE DO DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMAKERS THE PRODUCTS INVOLVED ARE LIKE JEEP WRANGLER, FORD'S RANGERS, THEY ARE POPULAR.

BUT REALLY IN THE POCKETBOOK IS THE VEHICLES THAT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT THAT IS WHERE IT WILL HIT FORD THE MOST.

FORD SAID THEY RELEASED A FIGURE THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE SEEN BEFORE THIS WEEK SAYING THAT $25 BILLION A YEAR IS GENERATED IN REVENUE FROM THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT.

SO IT'S JUST A JUGGERNAUT OF A FACTORY.

AND THE UAW IS NOT PLAYING AROUND BY TAKING OUT THIS PLANT.

>> Bill: HOW PREPARED ARE WORKERS AND OTHERS IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA NOW TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACT OF THIS STRIKE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

THEY GET ONLY STRIKE PAY FOR NOW, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND IT'S $500 A WEEK.

IT'S A LOT LESS THAN THEY RECEIVE AS WORKING ON THE LINE AND GOING TO WORK THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT I THINK, BILL, WILL REALLY DEPEND ON HOW LONG THIS LASTS, RIGHT?

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY FORD AND KENTUCKY TRUCK IN PARTICULAR HUGE PILLAR OF THE LOUISVILLE ECONOMY.

BUT IF IT'S OUT FOR A MATTER OF WEEKS YOU KNOW THE IMPACT IS PROBABLY FAIRLY NEGLIGIBLE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE AND IF IT IS A MATTER OF MONTHS THEN WE START LOOKING AT A MORE MEASURABLE IMPACT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WORKERS WHO WORK THERE.

IT'S ALL THE SUPPLIER PLANTS.

IT'S ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THEY SPEND FROM THEIR PAYCHECKS ON VEHICLES AND HOUSES AND RESTAURANT MEALS AND ALL THE WAYS THAT THAT MONEY FILTERS THROUGH THE LOUISVILLE ECONOMY.

>> Bill: JOE, THIS COMES AT A VERY POLITICAL TIME IN THE COUNTRY AND THE POLITICAL SEASON HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WE KNOW OF SOME POLITICIANS WHO ARE MAKING MOVES TO SHOW SOLIDARITY RIGHT NOW.

>> YES, ONE OF THEM IS CONGRESSMAN MORGAN McGARVEY, THE DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE.

HE TOLD ME HE WAS ON HIS WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE FROM THE CAPITAL AND HE PLANNED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE PICKET LINE THERE AT THE FORD FACTORY IN LOUISVILLE.

I'VE ASKED ANOTHER DEMOCRAT WHO HAS A PRETTY IMPORTANT ELECTION COMING UP GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN ANSWER YET WHETHER HE IS GOING TO ALSO VISIT WORKERS ON THE PICKET LINE.

WITH THE GOVERNOR AND DEALING WITH FORD IT'S A TRICKIER SITUATION THAT HE HAS TO WALK THE LINE ON.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR CALLED HIMSELF PRO UNION AND SIDED WITH THE LOUISVILLE WORKERS AND HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> WE NEED OUT OF THIS FOR FORD'S REGULAR PRODUCTION OUR HARD-WORKING FAMILIES OUT THERE IS A WIN-WIN WITH FORD AND THE UAW.

I MEAN, THIS IS A MASSIVE EMPLOYER FOR KENTUCKY.

AND THIS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS OUR FAMILIES AND IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY GET TREATED FAIRLY AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR KIDS AND THAT EMPLOYEES GET THEIR PROPER SHARE OF THE PROFITS.

>> Bill: SO BECAUSE OF TIMING, DOES THIS END UP BEING A FACTOR IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY DISCUSSED IN THE RACE WHEN THE NEWS OF THE WALK OFF BROKE WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOTH CAMPAIGNS THE DANIEL CAMERON CAMPAIGN AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BOTH PUT OUT STATEMENTS OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE BEING ASKED ABOUT THIS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM BESHEAR HE IS HAVING TO BOTH SIDES THIS A LITTLE BIT AS JOE POINTED OUT BECAUSE FORD HAS A MAJOR INVESTMENT COMING IN GLENDALE AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PLAYING UP IN HIS CAMPAIGN IS THAT THE ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAY THAT THE ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

SO YOU CAN'T ANGER A FUEL SOURCE FOR THAT IF YOU WILL.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN THAT USED THIS AS YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO MAKE A LINK BETWEEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN BY SAYING THE UAW CAN'T HANDLE BIDENNOMICS AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO OUR FAMILIES.

>> Bill: JOE, IS IT A FACTOR IN THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE BECAUSE OF TIMING?

>> THERE IS AT LEAST THE POTENTIAL OF THAT DEPENDING HOW THIS GOES.

OBVIOUSLY UNIONS AND THE AUTO WORKERS IN PARTICULAR ARE STRONG SUPPORTERS OF DEMOCRATS.

THEY'VE DONATED $75,000 TO ONE OF THE PACTS THAT IS DEALING FIELD WORK TO HELP BESHEAR.

BESHEAR OBVIOUSLY FEELS THAT HE OWES SOME LOYALTY TO THE UNION WORKERS WHO ARE STRIKING.

YET AT THE SAME TIME, PROBABLY THE CENTERPIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN IS THAT GLENDALE PLANT OF FORD.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO JUST BEFORE AN ELECTION STICK HIS THUMB IN THE EYE OF FORD ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IN CASE FORD DECIDES TO SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO HIM.

SO IN ANOTHER FACTOR THAT IS IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS IS EV BATTERY PLANTS ARE TIED INTO THIS WHOLE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN UAW AND THE BIG THREE.

AND YOU HAD THE FORD PRESIDENT SAYING LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, THAT SAYING THAT UAW WAS HOLDING THE NEGOTIATIONS HOSTAGE OVER THESE BIG SOON TO COME EV BATTERY PLANTS OVER WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO BE UNIONIZED OR NOT.

AND THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL IS IN GLENDALE.

YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THIS ISSUE FROM THE CAMPAIGN, TOO.

>> AND TO BUILD OFF OF THAT, THE GOVERNOR ALSO MADE THE POINT THAT KENTUCKY IS NOT JUST HAS THAT GLENDALE PROJECT THIS IS KENTUCKY IS ON THE TRAJECTORY TO HAVE A MASSIVE EV BATTERY INDUSTRY HERE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT, AGAIN, YOU DON'T ANGER FORD IN THIS SITUATION, RIGHT, BUT TO THE POINT THAT SCRO MADE THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ONE OF THE PACKINGS BACKING HIS EFFORT WHICH SPRAINS THIS ANSWER WE'VE SEEN WHERE HE WANTS A GOOD OUTCOME FOR BOTH SIDES.

>> Bill: IT IS TRICKY FOR THE GOVERNOR, RIGHT?

BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO KEEP FORD HAPPY WITH THEIR COMMITTMENT TO THE STATE AND WANTS TO APPEAL TO THE UNION WORKERS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, BILL, I'M ACTUALLY NOT CONVINCED THAT FORD'S FEELINGS ARE MUCH IN THE CALCULUS HERE.

THOSE PLANTS ON ON THEIR WAY TO BEING BUILT.

FORD ACTUALLY IT IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN FORD AND A KOREAN COMPANY SK.

BUT YOU KNOW THE STATE CUT THEM A CHECK FOR $250 MILLION TO HELP WITH THAT PLANT.

SO YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM KENTUCKY.

AND THAT INCLUDES FROM THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AS WELL.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY.

I THINK THE TRICKY CALCULUS IS THAT THE UAW WORKERS WHO DEMOCRATS COUNT AS ALLIES TRADITIONALLY, AND TRY TO SUPPORT AS OUTWARDLY AS THEY CAN THEY ARE NOT SO MUCH CONVINCED THAT THE BATTERY PLANTS ARE A GOOD THING.

I'VE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OF THEM WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY CONVINCED ABOUT THAT AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE UNION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT A JUST TRANSITION.

THEY WANT ECONOMIC SECURITY IF THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS GOING TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE LEFT OUT.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE THE COMPANIES WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY UNION AUTOMAKERS A BACK DOOR TO GROW NONUNION JOBS AND ELIMINATE UNION JOBS MAKING ENGINES AND ALL THE OTHER TYPES OF TRADITIONAL GAS POWERED VEHICLE EQUIPMENT.

SO THAT'S THE TENSION HERE.

AND WHETHER THOSE BATTERY PLANTS ARE PART OF THE UAW NEGOTIATIONS IS ALSO I MEAN THEY ARE CONTEXTUALLY BUT THEY ARE NOT LEGALLY.

AND IT IS A BIG POINT OF CONFUSION.

APPARENTLY GENERAL MOTORS HAS AGREED TO SOMEHOW FOLD IN THE BATTERY PLANTS.

THEY HAVE NOT SAID EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO.

AND FORD IS SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT THEY REALLY WON'T GIVE US ANY INDICATION OF THE CONTOURS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

AND REMEMBER THE WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED YET.

SO THE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG THEY CAN'T USE UAW STATUS ON BEHALF OF WORKERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN HIRED.

>> Bill: THE TIMING IS INTERESTING.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR COMMITTED TO SERVING OUT A FULL SECOND TERM IF HE IS REHE WILL ELECTED.

HIS COMMENT CAME IN A MEETING WITH THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

TESSA, BA HERE AND DANIEL CAMERON ARE SEEN AS RISING STARS IN THEIR PARTIES.

DOES IT COME AS A SURPRISE THAT BESHEAR WOULD CLOSE THE DOOR TO A POSSIBLE SENATE RUN TO A POTENTIAL CABINET POSITION IN WASHINGTON OR A SPOT ON A NATIONAL TICKET?

>> THE TIME HE MADE THE COMMENTS IT WAS FOUR WEEKS OUT AND NOW WE'RE CLOSER.

NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS A SURPRISE HE WANTS THE JOB AND HE IS RUNNING FOR RIGHT NOW.

YES, TO YOUR POINT, YES, HE DOES HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH DISCUSSED ABOUT.

IF HE DOES GET THE SECOND TERM WHERE DOES HE GO FROM THERE?

HE TOLD US THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.

HE IS FOCUSED ON WINNING THIS ELECTION AND SERVING EVERYDAY AS GOVERNOR AND HIS KIDS ARE IN A GOOD PLACE AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO MESS WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES A LOT.

HE TRIES TO KEEP EVERYTHING LOCAL AND FOCUSED NOT ONLY -- BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY WINNING ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR TO TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND PARTISAN DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN ISSUES.

IT IS NOT SURPRISING.

>> Bill: WHAT HAS CAMERON SAID ABOUT SERVING A FULL TERM?

>> HIS CAMPAIGN SAID I BELIEVE AFTER BESHEAR SAID THAT THAT HE IS GOING TO SERVE TWO TERMS IF HE WINS.

OF COURSE HE SAID THE SAME THING WHEN RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT HE WAS GOING TO SERVE TWO TERMS AND THAT DID NOT WORKOUT BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR INSTEAD.

>> Bill: IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE GOVERNOR'S RACE EVER IN KENTUCKY.

BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN RAISING $1.5 MILLION OVER A MONTH, $18 MILLION IN TOTAL.

AND BESHEAR AND CAMERON MET FOR A DEBATE THAT WAS HOSTED BY WPSD.

>> WE CANNOT HAVE A STRONG SECONDARY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STRONG K-12 SYSTEM.

AND THIS GOVERNOR SHUTDOWN OUR SCHOOLS FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.

AND BECAUSE OF IT, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEARNING LOSS.

SO MUCH SO THAT OUR KIDS ARE BEHIND IN ALL OF THE INDICATORS FOR SUCCESS.

>> THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL PUT OUT AN EDUCATION PLAN THAT SUPPORTS VOUCHERS THAT WOULD TAKE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SEND THEM TO FANCY PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN BIG CITIES.

IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATE K-12 EDUCATION.

>> Bill: TESSA YOU WERE THERE IN THE JACKSON PURCHASE FOR THAT EVENT.

EDUCATION ONLY ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY DISCUSSED?

>> INDEED I WAS.

THIS WAS AN HOUR LONG DISCUSSION AND WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS FORUM IT'S HOSTED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE LOCAL TV STATION WPSD AND THEY KEEP IT TIGHTLY REGIONALLY FOCUSED.

THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT BORINGS, ABOUT TRANS ISSUES AND THE MORE SOCIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE PERMEATED THE GOVERNOR'S RACE SO FAR.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DIDN'T GET BROUGHT UP ON STAGE BUT THEY WERE NOT QUESTIONS.

THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT WERE MORE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION HOW DO WE GROW THE POPULATION IN WEST KENTUCKY KEN, REGIONAL PROJECTS SURROUNDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW ON STAGE WAS BESHEAR TRYING TO REALLY GET AT THOSE QUESTIONS WHEREAS CAMERON IMMEDIATELY CAME OUT VERY AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER BESHEAR AND THE FIRST 15 SECONDS.

HE SAID AFTERWARDS I THINK I GOT UNDER HIS SKIN A LITTLE BIT.

THAT PROVIDED SORT OF THE COUNTERBALANCE FOR BESHEAR TO COME BACK AND SAY HE ONLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON D.C. BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS ABOUT HIM AND I AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT HE CAN WIN.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING THAT BESHEAR SAID YES HE IS TRYING TO MAKE THAT ABOUT WASHINGTON D.C. AND HE KEPT SAYING HOW I'M NONPARTISAN AND DANIEL CAMERON IS OVER PARTISAN.

AND BRINGING IT BACK TO THE C.E.O.S AND COMPANIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HE SAID ANY C.E.O.

WATCHING KENTUCKY DOESN'T WANT SOMEONE WHO IS OVERLY PARTISAN THEY WANT NONPARTISAN TO GET STUFF DONE.

>> AND YOU COVER ALL KINDS OF SUBJECTS AND HAVE A GOOD PULSE ACROSS THE STATE, DO YOU THINK VOTERS ARE PERSUADABLE AT THIS POINT?

HAVE MOST PEOPLE MADE UP THEIR MINDS?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO SAY, BILL.

I THINK THERE WAS THAT POLL THAT HAD BESHEAR UP BY A NUMBER THAT WAS SO BIG THAT IT STRETCHES SHOWED QUITE A LOT OF UNDECIDED VOTERS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW, I THINK TESSA AND JOE MAY HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN BELIEVE THAT.

>> Bill: YOU KNOW, DO PEOPLE THESE DAYS, THE MOST RELIABLE PREDICTER HOW SOMEBODY WILL VOTE IS THEIR REGISTRATION IN 2023.

RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING REFLECTED IN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS DANIEL CAMERON REALLY BANKING ON THAT.

THEY KNOW THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION HAS SHIFTED IN FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICANS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HEARING THIS BESHEAR BIDEN DRUM BEATEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHILE YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND HOW DIVISIVE THAT OTHER GUY IS AND NEVER REALLY MENTIONING THAT HE IS A DEMOCRAT.

>> I THINK THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE MADE UP THEIR MIND ON WHO THEY SUPPORT.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDECIDED VOTERS AND WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S GETTING OUT THE SUPPORTERS THAT YOU'VE WON OVER.

>> Bill: IF YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED BY NOW.

IN THE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN MICHAEL ADAMS AND HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHARLES WHEATLEY SPARRED OVER ISSUES ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH RENEE SHAW.

THIS IS ONE OF THE TENSE EXCHANGES THERE.

>> WELL DON'T TAKE IT FROM ME TAKE IT FROM ANDY BESHEAR HE PRAISES MY INTEGRITY AND FAITH AND MY PERFORMANCE IN THIS OFFICE.

I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF TEXTS FROM Mr. WHEATLEY FROM HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS PRAISING MY INTEGRITY AND PRAISING THE JOB I'VE DONE IN THIS OFFICE.

I'VE CLEANED UP SCANDALS I INHERITED WHEN HIS CRONIES RAN THIS OFFICE.

>> I THINK THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT YOUR INTEGRITY.

I'VE SERVED TWO TERMS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.

I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE THERE.

AND PROUD TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE 65TH DISTRICT WHEN I DID.

I GOT INTO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RUNNING ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE PENSION SYSTEMS AND PROUD OF MY BIPARTISAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> Bill: TESSA THERE YOU HAVE ADAMS INVOKING BESHEAR'S NAME WHEN HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION.

I THINK HE DID THAT A COUPLE TIMES AT LEAST.

>> AND THAT'S BEEN A LINE WE'VE SEEN MICHAEL ADAMS WALK A LOT IN HIS FIRST TERM AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

SO IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HE HAD TO BEAT OUT A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO WERE RUNNING TO THE RIGHT OF HIM WHO WERE ELECTION DENIERS SKEPTICS AND NOW HE IS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION HE ALSO HAS TO TOUT HIS BIPARTISAN APPEAL AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE WITH THE GOVERNOR WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND IT IS A FREQUENT TALKING ABOUT HOW VOTING WAS HANDLED IN 2020 DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC WITH THE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING.

HE DOES HAVE A CERTAIN APPEAL TO DEMOCRATS WHO KNOW THAT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS OUT THERE WHO WOULD BE MUCH MORE EXTREME AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

SO HE SORT OF SELLS HIMSELF AS A WAY TO HOLD OFF THE EXTREME.

AND I THINK THAT APPEALS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: IT'S NOTABLE THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER DECLINED APPEARING ON THE PROGRAM.

HOW TOUGH IS IT FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE DOWN BALLOT RACES?

>> IT WILL BE TOUGH.

IN THE 2019 ELECTION BESHEAR BARELY WON BUT MOST OF THE DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES LOST FROM 10-20%.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE ANY REAL CHANCE OF WINNING IS TO HAVE BESHEAR WINNING AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET BUT WINNING A LARGE AMOUNT SOMETHING WHAT THE POLL SHOWED TO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SHELL WOULD NOT COME ON A LOT OF TIMES WHEN CANDIDATES THINK THEY ARE WAY AHEAD THEY DON'T WANT TO RISK SOMETHING THAT WILL GET THEM IN TROUBLE.

>> Bill: WHAT A YEAR FOR RYAN QUARELS HE RANKED SECOND IN THE PRIMARY FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR ENDS UP GETTING A JOB THAT KENTUCKY LANTERN FOUND OUT BY PULLING SOME RECORDS THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

A JOB THAT WILL PAY $380,000 MORE THAN TWICE WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PAYS.

SO DID HE WIN BY LOSING?

>> I THINK HIS SAVING ACCOUNT DEFINITELY WON THIS RACE.

IT IS I THINK HE IS ESPECIALLY A WINNER IF ON NOVEMBER 7TH, BESHEAR WINS BUT WINS BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN WHERE REPUBLICANS MIGHT SAY WELL IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE NOMINATED BESHEAR WAS GOING TO WIN.

IF BESHEAR WINS BY A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES PEOPLE MIGHT BE SAYING MAYBE QUARELS COULD HAVE DONE IT.

>> Bill: THE BLUEGRASS ARMY DEPOT HELD AN EVENT TO MARK THE NERVE AGENT STORED FOR DECADES.

LEADERS WANT TO ATTRACT DEFENSE AND OTHER PROJECTS TO THE DEPOT IN THE FUTURE.

AND NOW THERE'S GROWING SPECULATION ABOUT A POTENTIALLY LARGE EMPLOYER COMING TO MADISON COUNTY NOT FAR ALONG I-75.

RICHMOND HAS TAKEN AN OPTION ON PROPERTY AND EKU STUDENT NEWSPAPER BROKE THE STORY OF A GOVERNOR HOLDING A PRIVATE MEETING ON CAMPUS WITH A MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

ONE THING YOU SAID IS THAT IT POINTS OUT THAT JOURNAL JOURNALISTS ARE JOURNALISTS.

>> THEY ARE REAL JOURNALISTS ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT IS SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS YOU SAID IT'S OFF THE INTERSTATE.

IT'S RIGHT THERE WHERE BUCKY'S IS.

THE MASSIVE PARCEL OF LAND THIS MEGA SITE.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING.

WE'VE SEEN MOVEMENT AROUND IT.

BUT NO ONE IS SAYING WHAT.

AND THAT'S WHEN NO ONE IS DENYING ANYTHING BUT THEY ARE NOT SAYING WHAT IT IS, IT'S CERTAINLY MAKES YOU WONDER.

>> Bill: IT DOES.

AND CHRIS, DO YOU SPOT ANYTHING?

AND WHAT YOU ARE HEARING AND SEEING ABOUT THE REPORTS FROM THAT?

>> BILL, I HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NO REPORTING ON THAT.

SO ALL I CAN OFFER IS TOTAL SPECULATION.

AND I'LL JUST OBSERVE THAT JUST THIS PAST WEEK, COCOA MOW INDIANA GOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ANOTHER EV BATTERY PLANT FOR STEM CELL LANTIS.

A LOT OF THE AUTO SECTOR INVESTMENTS IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SPACE WITH STILL TO BE SORTED OUT ARE STILL UP FOR GRABS.

ANYTIME YOU SEE A BIG SITE LIKE THAT RIGHT OFF THE INTERSTATE IN A CORRIDOR WHERE YOU CAN SEE MOVEMENT OF GOODS TO OTHER PLANTS AND OTHER SITES, YOU CAN SPECULATE ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE TOUGH IMAGES COMING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER THE HAMAS ATTACKS LAST WEEKEND LOTS OF KENTUCKY WHO CAME HOME.

THE GOVERNOR ORDERED FLAGS LOWERED IN HONOR OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE AND LIVES LOST IN THAT.

JOE, A GLOBAL EVENT THAT HAS GRABBED ATTENTION HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH?

>> YES, IT IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION AND IT'S ONLY GETTING MORE TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW.

THERE WERE KENTUCKIANS STRANDED THERE.

THERE WAS A CON STINGENT FROM NELSON COUNTY.

BUT FORTUNATELY, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, EVERYONE IS SAFE AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AND THERE WEREN'T KENTUCKIANS AMONG THE HOSTAGES THERE.

>> Bill: CHRIS, THE WDRB REPORTS THE LOUISVILLE METRO REVIEW COMMISSION SAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHOULD MAKE THE MAYOR AND METRO COUNCIL RACES IN LOUISVILLE NONPARTISAN.

THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED OVER THE YEARS.

MOST CITIES IN KENTUCKY DO HAVE NONPARTISAN CITY ELECTIONS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY VOTERS WHEN THEY APPROVED A MERGER BACK IN 2002, 2003 DECIDED THEY WANTED TO STAY WITH PARTISAN ELECTIONS, BILL, I THINK THIS COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT ALL THOSE ISSUES THE CRITICISM OF IT IS THAT IT IS A CREATURE OF THE REPUBLICAN DOMINATED LEGISLATURE.

AND THAT ITS CONCLUSIONS WERE PREORDAINED AND PERHAPS BORN OF FRUSTRATION THAT THERE'S STILL A POLITICAL STRANGLE-HOLD FOR DEMOCRATS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

AND SO THE NONPARTISAN IDEA IS A CYNICAL WAY OF LOOKING AT THAT IS PERHAPS THE REPUBLICANS ARE THINKING THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING REPUBLICANS ELECTED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IF VOTERS THEY DON'T HAVE TO TELL VOTERS THEY ARE REPUBLICAN.

PERHAPS JOE HAS AN IDEA ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: CHRIS, JUST WHILE WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT THE NEW C.E.O.

OF HUMANA.

GET THE WORD IN ABOUT HIM.

>> BILL TO BE THE C.E.O.

OF A FORTUNE 50 COMPANY ONE OF THE BIGGEST JOBS IN THE COUNTRY, A LOT OF QUALIFICATIONS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE A HARVARD MBA.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT IS THAT YOUR CURRENT COMPANY WENT INTO BANKRUPTCY UNDER YOUR TENURE BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH JIM RECOLLECTTON AND ENVISION HEALTHCARE.

HUMANA DOESN'T SEEM TO HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED UP TO THAT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND A MAN WHO SPENT HIS LIFE EXPLAINING APPALACHIA HAS DIED.

LOW WELL JONES WROTE BOOKS ABOUT THE CULTURE AND RESILIENCY OF MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.

LOW WELL JONES WAS 95.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.