Did you know? There’s a special election going on in the 32nd State Senate District.
On the Democratic side: Mike Reynolds. Fourth generation resident of Warren County. He, according to Jennifer Moore’s latest email blast, has experience and character. But we have been unable to find any information about the guy and the fancy, almost-non-existent KDP is no help. He’s apparently a businessman, attorney and community activist. Son of State Supreme Court Justice Charles Reynolds. Member of the Bowling Green Rotary Club, American Legion Post 23 and the Knights of Columbus Council 1315.
On the Republican side: J. Marshall Hughes of television commercial fame. He’s the voice of his law firm, Hughes & Coleman. He was involved in Ernie Fletcher’s fancy scandal, was indicted, and word on the street is it’s not harming him in the 32nd District.
Our impression is that Hughes is likely to win, despite his involvement in the Fletcher debacle. Which is, uh, pretty much common sense for anyone paying attention, right? Doesn’t take much to realize his millions spent on television over the past however many years is instant name i.d.
Thoughts? Opinions on the race? Will Jennifer lose another Senate seat? Drop your dirt in the comments, kids.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Dewey Dell // Jan 23, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Who’s running Reynolds’ campaign?
2 Optimistic Dem // Jan 23, 2009 at 1:33 pm
While today was the first day I have heard anything from the KDP about this race the campaign itself has been using facebook and other sources to reach out to us.
I live in Louisville and have been very aware of the race for a while so they are doing a good job letting people know.
I am not convinced the KDP doing a bunch of things is necessarily good down in that specific district. That being said if there is not some work being done under the radar by the KDP then they should be ashamed.
Mike Reynold’s campaign is reaching out and letting people know about the race and what they need for help. I personally have pledged to drive down for a weekend and canvass and hope everyone who reads this takes the time to do so as well.
3 jake // Jan 23, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I think they’re doing a pretty terrible job of reaching out. The voters in that district certainly aren’t on Facebook.
And why is Kyle Gott involved in that campaign? Is he the one running it, along with Ridley and Rhoades? That kid had to pay back like $4,000 to the Young Dems after swindling it a couple years ago.
4 Wow.... // Jan 23, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Kyle Gott HAHAHA what a joke the state party is hiring the people who worked for greg Fischer
5 Republican // Jan 23, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Some of the indictments in the hiring scandal may — MAY – have been warranted in some peoples’ opinions.
But Hughes’ indictment was ridiculous. All he did was make job recommendations. He had no authority to hire anyone. He didn’t even work for the state. Hughes’ conduct was no different than any Democrat county chair or patronage man for years and years, and was no different than that of Greg Stumbo himself, who wrote job recommendation letters to Paul Patton on House stationery.
6 jake // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I point you to this old article on Hughes…
That story certainly doesn’t make Hughes sound wholly innocent. Appears he was a mastermind behind a lot of Fletcher’s problems.
7 Republican // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:25 pm
No it doesn’t, and I remember the quote from him about getting ALL the jobs …. but how could he be charged with a crime when he was merely an unofficial adviser and had no hiring power?
8 jake // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Um, scheming up a potential crime– like a murder– usually gets someone in trouble.
9 Optimistic Dem // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Jake –
No they aren’t but people willing to volunteer and get involved are. The voters don’t need to be you just use these tools to reach out to activist that will be willing to come down and do the work of actually talking to the voters. They have had quite a few canvasses and such. I am just saying it seems as if they are paying attention to the things they need to. I am not here to vouch for the quality of the canvassing nor the quality of use of the data gathered from their efforts, I am just saying at least they are asking for it.
10 jake // Jan 23, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I’m glad at least someone is doing something out there. And noble that you’d volunteer.
But it’s a lost cause. Even Jody Richards couldn’t win that seat. Don’t think any Democrat could.
11 Jeff Noble // Jan 25, 2009 at 4:28 pm
“Will Jennifer lose another Senate seat?” – from your post.
“But it’s a lost cause. Even Jody Richards couldn’t win that seat. Don’t think any Democrat could.” – from your 4:31 pm 01/23/09 comment.
*****
In defense of Jennifer Moore – five words I haven’t often written lately – this seat, as you point out, is basically unwinnable. So, at least in this instance, blaming the Chair for what is very likely to be a loss is decidedly unfair. Your description of a lost cause is markedly correct, except for the fact that it is a “Special” election.
The 32nd consists of Warren and Butler counties.
In 2006 Brett Guthrie won the seat unopposed. The only contested race in Butler that year was for Congress where Whitfield prevailed with 70.7% of the vote.
In Warren County, Ron Lewis won his race with 58.2%. The only other contested race was admittedly close, DeCesare defeating Cherry 51.5 to 48.5. Jody Richards represents the urban part of Warren, with DeCesare taking in most of the suburban and rural parts of the county. A few precincts spill over from Democratically held House seats to the south and east, but not enough to make a difference.
In 2002, again Guthrie was unopposed. That year saw a few more contested races to give one an idea of how the area votes.
In Butler County, McConnell won 79.1%, Whitfield 78,9%, and State Representative C. M. Embry with 54.9%. Over in Warren County, McConnell got 72.5% while Ron Lewis got 72.1%.
Our hope is kindled by the fact that it is a Special election, and notwithstading the recent fiasco in southeastern Kentucky where we lost the seat held by Dan Mongiardo, we have otherwise done well in the last several years in Special elections. Voter turnout in Specials is historically very low. A very concentrated GOTV effort, especially within Richards’ House district, I believe, will be the key to any possible win. But I’m not from there. Despite Kyle’s past, he is from the area and if he is working it, he would certainly know more about it than me. For that matter, so would anyone else from Bowling Green.
If we do win, great praise will have to be heaped upon the Chair and whoever else works this race. I am curious to see who all from Warren County is actively participating. But if we lose, assigning the loss to the Chair probably doesn’t represent reality. This is, for all intents and purposes, a Republican seat.
JN
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