Gatewood Galbraith is Independent candidate

By Dave Cooper

Could 2011 be the year that Gatewood Galbraith is finally elected to office in Kentucky? It could happen.

Lexington attorney Galbraith, running for governor as an Independent candidate, will face incumbent Governor Steve Beshear and State Senate Majority Leader David Williams in the November election. Gov. Beshear has teamed with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson for 2011, dropping his unpopular Lt. Governor, Hazard physician Dr. Dan Mongiardo, while Sen. Williams has selected former UK basketball star and current Agriculture Commissioner Ritchie Farmer for his running mate. Galbraith’s running mate is Dea Riley, a Frankfort media consultant.

Gov. Beshear is reportedly 20 points ahead of Williams and Galbraith in the latest polls, but I often wonder if there is anyone in Kentucky who is really enthusiastic about Gov. Beshear. Quick, name Gov. Beshear’s most significant accomplishment during his current term in office. While you are pondering that one, can you describe Gov. Beshear’s vision for Kentucky?

All in all, Beshear is a pretty blase, unexciting candidate. Lets take a look at his record:

Gov. Beshear has supported $40 million in tax incentives for the controversial Ark Encounter biblical theme park, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2014 near I-75 in Grant County, touting it as a job creation plan. But Beshear has faced heavy criticism for giving tax breaks at a time when budgets are tight. Another issue is the separation of chuch and state: “The state of Kentucky should not be promoting the spread of fundamentalist Christianity or any other religious viewpoint,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It’s perfectly fine for a private group to re-launch Noah’s ark, but the governor shouldn’t go along for the ride. The government should not be giving tax incentives for religious projects. Religion should be supported by voluntary donations, not the government.”

Gov. Beshear has also garnered criticism for his support for mountaintop removal coal mining. In his 2011 State of the Commonwealth address, Beshear denounced the Environmental Protection Agency, telling regulators to “Get off our backs!”

Shortly after his speech, an intrepid group of Kentuckians calling themselves “Kentucky Rising” staged a sit-in in the Governor’s office to pressure Gov. Beshear to accompany them on a site visit to a mountaintop removal mine. To his credit, Beshear did make that site visit, yet despite studies showing higher rates of birth defects and cancer in areas affected by mountaintop removal, three large oil spills that contaminated drinking water in Whitesburg, KY, and evidence showing that coal companies may have falsified water quality data submitted to the Division of Water, Gov. Beshear has yet to drop a lawsuit against the EPA which would prevent the EPA from instituting tougher water quality standards on the streams which emanate from mountaintop removal mines.

Evidence is accumulating that streams coming from mountaintop removal sites contain selenium, a highly-toxic metal which causes mutations in fish. These mountain streams are also the headwater streams that supply drinking water to cities like Nashville, Lexington, Winchester and Frankfort. It often seems to me that Gov. Beshear is more interested in the profits of the coal industry than in the safety of the drinking water of Kentucky familes.

On the casino issue, Gov. Beshear has tried and failed to allow the licensing of slot machines at Kentucky horse tracks, in large part due to the strong opposition of Sen. David Williams. But on this issue, I am thankful for Sen. Williams’ obstruction. It’s hard for me to see how taking money out of the pockets of poor and desperately-addicted people and funneling it to the coffers of out-of-state casino corporations will benefit Kentuckians in the long run. Casinos come with an enormous social cost, but that cost won’t be paid by the wealthy horse farm owners who support casinos and racinos.

Sometimes dismissed a perennial or fringe candidate, Gatewood offers some refreshing candor on these issues. Since he is not affiliated with either of the parties he is not beholden to big money. Gatewood decries “corruption purchased through campaign contributions” and says he will be less influenced by the special interests.

When we look at the powerful lobbying influence of the road builders or the pharmaceutical companies, the insurance companies, the health care companies, the coal companies – the interests and needs of the average Kentuckian seem to be getting short shrift in Frankfort.

Gatewood has taken some courageous stands on the issues: He opposes mountaintop removal. According to his campaign website, “the practice of Mountain Top Removal has reduced valuable coal jobs, caused unsurpassed environmental damage and continues to stifle overall economic development efforts. MTR jeopardizes potential growth in the areas of tourism, recreation, health and wellness and resort development by deforming the natural aesthetic beauty that Kentucky is dependent on for future economic success.”

And unlike Gov. Beshear, Gatewood acknowledges “Worst of all, MTR has affected the health of the residents.”Gatewood believes that the issue of casino gambling should be put to a vote by the people, and that any casino should be owned by the state, rather than by corporations based in Las Vegas or New Jersey.

And of course, Gatewood supports the development of industrial hemp as a cash crop to help farmers diversify.

And here is a bonus: Gatewood recently stated that he is “adamantly opposed to the hunting of sandhill cranes,” even though he is a life-long hunter.

Does Gatewood stand a chance this November? Nationally, attitudes towards marijuana seem to be relaxing, with marijuana being available for medicinal purposes in 16 states.

Dissatisfaction with government seems to be at all-time high: an Aug 4 New York Times/CBS News poll showed 82 percent of Americans dissaprove of Congress following the debate over raising the debt ceiling, so there could be a strong anti-incumbent turnout in the November election that should benefit outsiders like Gatewood.

And Gatewood has one more thing going for him, a secret weapon: He’s been endorsed by Willie Nelson.