LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two major endorsements were announced in the Louisville mayoral race Thursday: Planned Parenthood endorsed Democrat Craig Greenberg, while six police unions threw their support behind Republican Bill Dieruf.
Greenberg said he expects abortion to be a deciding issue in the November election. “Now more than ever, the rights of women, their rights to reproductive choices, to health care choices, are under attack,” Greenberg said. Greenberg said the Planned Parenthood endorsement will make a clear distinction between himself and Dieruf.
“My opponent, Bill Dieruf, is backed by extreme antiabortionists who support criminalizing all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest,” he said. “He’ll refuse to even answer whether he’ll allow the police to arrest women who are seeking abortions, or doctors who are performing them.”
Greenberg declined to answer if he favors any restrictions on abortion, but told Spectrum News 1 his focus is on defeating the ballot initiative in November that asks voters if they believe the Kentucky Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion. A ‘no’ vote on the question means the voter believes in a constitutional right to abortion. The outcome of the ballot question will likely play a large role in deciding the legal battle over two Kentucky abortion restrictions, including an outright ban on the procedure.
During a press conference announcing the police endorsements Thursday, Dieruf didn’t want to answer questions on abortion, including his specific stance on the issue. “I will tell you, the sad thing is, the biggest thing on this community’s mind is safety,” Dieruf said. “This announcement today is huge, and to try to show that you need to have another event today is a sign of a desperate candidate.”
Dieruf received the endorsement of unions representing officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, Kentucky State Police, and the police departments of St. Matthews, Shively and Jeffersontown.
Dieruf said he’s the only candidate that can address the issues going on with law enforcement in Louisville. “The key thing for anybody to look to move here for a business or a person individually to move their job here is — is Louisville safe? And the answer right now is ‘no,’” Dieruf said. “I will bring the safety back. I will bring the pride back. I will bring the ranks back.”
Greenberg said he’s not surprised by the police endorsing his opponent, but he’ll work with law enforcement either way. “I want to crack down on illegal guns, invest more in mental health resources, invest more in root causes of crime and poverty, and have the best trained, the most transparent and the most trusted police department in all of America,” he said.
Greenberg co-founded 21c Museum Hotels, while Dieruf has been the mayor of Jeffersontown for the last 12 years. Both men are running to replace current Mayor Greg Fischer, who cannot run again due to term limits.