opinion

Editorial: Make him Ky. Gov. Conway

Kentucky needs a governor who knows how to listen to Kentuckians, reach out to both Democrats and Republicans, and lead on policies that move the commonwealth forward.

Kentucky voters should choose Democrat Jack Conway as their next governor.

Conway, currently the commonwealth’s attorney general, may not have all the answers to Kentucky’s troubles. But he has a collaborative approach that will reap dividends in terms of cooperation and outcomes.

He describes himself as a “Kentucky-first Democrat,” one who values bipartisan approaches and pragmatic solutions. He’s willing to reach a hand across the Ohio River to work together on regional problems. He is in touch with what ails the state, and has proposed responsible policy proposals that don’t lose sight of everyday Kentuckians. As attorney general, he has shown he knows how to navigate Frankfort’s bureaucracy and politics – invaluable knowledge for a gubernatorial candidate.

Republican Matt Bevin was the strongest contender from a weak GOP field of four candidates, but he hasn’t shown he knows how to unite his own party, much less bridge the partisan divide. Bevin won the Republican primary by 83 votes. That’s not much of a mandate, but Bevin has treated his win as a coronation, telling Kentuckians he’s vetting hires for his administration because the odds are he’ll be governor. Yet the most recent polling shows Bevin lagging Conway by 5 percentage points, with a plus or minus 3.8-point margin of error.

Bevin needs to listen before he can lead, and must lead before he can govern. Northern Kentucky Republicans have expressed concern they may not have Bevin’s ear if he is elected, and they’re not alone. Bevin touts his experience as a businessman, but being a CEO is very different than being a governor. Conway may be a Democrat in a state that usually votes red nationally, but by trial of experience and proof of accomplishments, it is clear he knows a leader without followers is just a guy taking a walk.

Conway’s proposals reflect his thoughtful approach to Kentucky’s pressing issues.

He has diligently worked to curb drug abuse in Kentucky as attorney general and has the right approach to the heroin epidemic. He sees the scourge of addiction as a treatment problem, and directed $32 million from a settlement with drug companies toward juvenile treatment programs and care centers. He was a strong advocate of a critical heroin aid bill that squeaked through the legislature earlier this year.

Northern Kentucky needs a solution for the aging Brent Spence Bridge, and neither Conway nor Bevin has a convincing answer. But of the two men, Conway’s approach is realistically cautious and hopeful. He is wisely opposed to the Eastern Bypass proposal, while Bevin thinks it holds some merit. Conway is open to the idea of public-private partnerships, and while he says he won’t go against Northern Kentuckians if they oppose tolls, we’re encouraged by his vow to make the Brent Spence problem a priority. His willingness to work with Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the bridge also bodes well. Both Kentucky and Ohio will benefit from partnering to solve regional problems.

Conway has committed to seek a bipartisan solution to Kentucky’s pension crisis, one that will keep the commonwealth’s promises to teachers in a way that is fiscally responsible.

Kentucky’s expansion of Medicaid and its health insurance marketplace, known as Kynect, have dramatically reduced the number of uninsured Kentuckians. But now the state must work to move people off the program and into jobs through which employers assist with the cost of insurance. Again, this is where Conway’s proposals stand out. He correctly diagnoses Kentucky’s struggle with drugs as a core economic issue because it harms the quality of the commonwealth’s workforce. He is also keenly aware Kentucky must sharpen its competitive ability to attract and keep good employers and jobs. He’s proposing a top-to-bottom review of taxes, targeted tax cuts and job training centers to bridge the skills gap for Kentucky’s workers.

On Nov. 3, Kentuckians should vote for a public servant with a track record of success, a spirit of collaboration and a set of realistic proposals to better the commonwealth. They should vote for Jack Conway.