As protesters chanted "Eastern Kentucky is not for sale," Gov. Matt Bevin on Saturday told teachers to set a better example for children in the crowd at a speaking event in Ashland.

In a video released Tuesday by the Kentucky Democratic Party, Bevin, who is up for reelection next month and is running against Attorney General Andy Beshear, is shown telling a crowd of protesters across the street from where he is speaking to "join in the celebration" taking place in front of them and to "come across the street and have a conversation with us."

"But understand this," he continues. "In all seriousness – the reason you’re on that side of the street is only because you want to be. If you really, genuinely want what is best, you could be on this side and join in the celebration.

"In all seriousness, the very behavior that you’re exemplifying, any child who acted this way at recess or in your schools, you would not accept it. And the fact that as adults, you’re modeling this for the children that are here says a lot more about why you’re really here."

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The protesters aren't shown in that video, but a separate video from the same event released by the Kentucky Democrats shows Bevin speaking with a group of demonstrators wearing red Kentucky Education Association shirts.

While a protester tells the governor that the timing of his visit, less than a month before the election, is convenient, Bevin tells them he's "been to this county more than any governor in the history of this state," and if they "genuinely cared about this county" they would be on the other side of the street.

Davis Paine, Bevin's campaign manager, said the video shows Beshear and his supporters are unwilling to have a conversation about key issues facing Kentucky.

“It is very telling that Andy Beshear and his liberal entourage are outraged that their governor took the time to thoughtfully listen to Andy's own supporters," Paine said Wednesday in a statement. "Andy and his liberal funders are so furious that the governor has stopped their radical agenda that they now consider it unacceptable to have a dialogue on important issues.”

Bevin has had a testy relationship with teachers in the Bluegrass State during his time in office, and many educators have come out against him in his heated gubernatorial race against Beshear.

Bevin has, at different times, said children were sexually assaulted while teachers were in Frankfort protesting proposed changes to their pensions during scheduled school days, compared his efforts to reform the state's pension system to "saving a drowning victim" who needs to be knocked out and dragged to shore, and has said teacher "sickout" protests were an excuse for educators to take paid time off of work.

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Bevin has also said he regrets none of what he has said about educators.

The teacher vote, meanwhile, is a coveted faction by Republicans and Democrats alike. The Courier Journal revealed Tuesday that teachers in at least eight rural Kentucky counties had received emails to their district-issued accounts urging them to vote against Beshear. Bevin campaign officials have denied sending those emails.

Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach. Support strong local journalism and subscribe: www.courier-journal.com/lucasa.