KENTUCKY — In the race to become’s Kentucky’s next state Treasurer, Republican Mark Metcalf and Democrat Michael Bowman are on the ballot in the 2023 general election campaign. Metcalf is from Lancaster in Garrard County and currently serves as Garrard County Attorney, a position he has held off and on for over 22 years. He also completed 29 years in the Kentucky Army National Guard, representing every major command in the Commonwealth. In years past, Metcalf also served as a judge on the U.S. Immigration Court in Miami, Florida.

Bowman is from Louisville in Jefferson County and has a professional background in banking and finance. He was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer in 2019, losing in the general election to incumbent Allison Ball. Bowman received over 770,000 votes in the race, amounting to 39% of the vote.

Bowman says he ran for the office for a second time because he believes, “Kentucky needs a treasurer who doesn’t just rubber stamp bad policy, but instead focuses on accountability and transparency.” 

Metcalf beat two other primary challengers in May to advance to his party’s nomination, while Bowman did not appear on Kentucky’s primary ballot because he ran unopposed for his party’s nomination.

The two candidates joined In Focus Kentucky to discuss their campaign to become the next state treasurer, replacing current officeholder Allison Ball, who cannot run for a third, four-year term, due to state law.

The Kentucky treasurer is the state’s chief fiscal officer and takes care of revenue deposits and unclaimed property.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky ‘Conversation with the State Treasurer Candidates’ segment in the player above.