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Supporters of Both Bevin and Beshear Vocal About Their Candidate

Stu Johnson

Motorists traveling along Lexington’s Avenue of Champions late Tuesday afternoon before the governor’s debate faced a gauntlet of sign waving political supporters.  At times, those championing Gov. Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear stood side-by-side.

In spite of gathering on the same side of the street, the allegiances for their candidate was clear, including overlapping chants of  “four more years” and “vote him out”?

Calling herself an accidental activist, teacher Laura Hartke believes Beshear stands out clearly with his support for educators.

“Well were here because public education is on the line and our pensions and our health insurance, the future of working families in Kentucky is all on the line right now,” said Hartke.

Just a few feet down from Hartke was Randall Clark  who spoke about job creation and asked, “why shouldn’t I be for Governor Bevin?”

“I’m here just to stand up in support of our governor.  The best governor that Kentucky has ever had.  The only governor that’s fully funded teachers’ pensions.  The most pro-life governor in America,” Clark said.

Then the action moved inside the University of Kentucky’s Singletary Center where the debate was staged.

Bevin and  Andy Beshear attacked each other verbally often and fielding questions on topics like pre-k to higher education,  medical coverage for pre-existing conditions, and coal miner pay. One question focused on eastern Kentucky water issues. Beshear said during the WKYT televised debate access to clean drinking water is a human right.

“I’m going to declare a state of emergency. We’re going to work on federal funds based on that state of emergency. We’re going to make sure that every single child can bathe in the water that comes to their house and drink from the water that’s coming out of their faucet,” explained Beshear.

Bevin said vast amounts of money going to address water problems in eastern Kentucky must be coupled with changes in distribution. “Start where the water source is. Insuring that it’s clean. Insuring that the pumping is accurate. Insuring that the lines don’t leak and that we don’t have bits and pieces of lines that are good in some places and not at the source,” noted Bevin.

Kentucky is one of three races for governor this fall. The two candidates will hold  three more debates before election day on Nov. 5.

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