Kentucky Democrats have criticized Republican Gov. Matt Bevin for years over declining to share his personal income tax returns with the public.

But in the early days of a gubernatorial primary, former state Auditor Adam Edelen's running mate, who is a wealthy Louisville developer with ties to major liberal donors, is also declining to disclose that information.

Edelen told The Associated Press that he would be releasing his returns, but that his partner on the ticket, businessman Gill Holland, would not. He said Holland, who is the husband of Brown-Forman director Augusta Brown, "has a concern over his family's privacy and I respect that."

Holland declined a Courier Journal interview request through the campaign, which said he will file every single financial disclosure required by law.

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"Kentuckians also ought to know that Adam is the only candidate in this race who has pledged he won’t take a dime of PAC money," said Matt Erwin, spokesman for the Edelen campaign. "Kentucky can be confident real people, not special interests or faceless PACs, are fueling this campaign."

Holland gives Edelen a potential fundraising edge given his personal wealth and business ties. The campaign held one of its first fundraisers last week, which was hosted by Holland's mother-in-law, Christy Brown, who is a major Democratic donor in the state.

It had been a bipartisan tradition for decades that candidates for Kentucky governor revealed their tax returns to let voters know about their personal income, investments and possible conflicts of interests.

Bevin broke that precedent in 2015 and described the attacks over his decision as a "smokescreen" by Democrats.

"If I did release my tax returns, people would see that I am, frankly, trust me, there’s nothing in there I’m concerned about people seeing at all," Bevin said at the time.

Since then, many high-profile candidates and officeholders, including President Donald Trump, have refused to release their tax returns.

The Associated Press analyzed 36 governor’s races in 2018, and found fewer than half of candidates in those released part or all of a tax return.

University of Louisville political science professor Dewey Clayton said it is becoming a new political trend for candidates not to release their returns, "because it makes it that much more difficult for the media and watchdog groups to follow the money." He said the details of the tax returns also, "may be used by their opponents in political attack advertisements."

Attorney General Andy Beshear, one of Edelen's rivals in the Democratic primary, took a slight jab at the Edelen campaign over Holland's tax return stance.

Beshear told the Courier Journal the decision is unacceptable. He tied Holland's reasoning to previous criticisms lobbed at the governor.

"After three years of Matt Bevin's self-dealing and personal enrichment, all candidates for governor and lieutenant governor must release their tax returns to earn the trust of Kentucky's families," Beshear said.

Beshear revealed his tax returns for the past two years, which showed he earned about $118,000, paid more than $12,000 in taxes and donated $2,902 to charity.

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Jacqueline Coleman, who is running with Besehar, also released her returns showing she and her husband together earned $115,260 in 2017, and paid more than $11,000 in taxes.

Clayton, the political science professor, said Beshear will likely remind primary voters about Holland's refusal.

"Since he released his tax returns, he can take the high road in the Democratic primary," Clayton said.

House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins, who is also running but has yet to release his tax returns, said through his campaign that he will be a "transparent governor" if elected. He is running with former Jefferson County school board member Steph Horne.

"You can see that from the detailed financial disclosures he has filed over the years as a legislative leader," said Courtney Daniel, spokeswoman for the Adkins campaign. "Anyone running for governor or lieutenant governor should release their tax returns."

Bevin's office did not respond to a request for comment.

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Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/philb.