LEXINGTON, Ky. — Election night is three weeks away and almost everyone in the Commonwealth has their eyes on the race for governor. Republican candidate, Daniel Cameron, stopped in Lexington and spoke to Rotary Club members.
The current attorney general spoke to Rotarians for about half an hour. Cameron highlighted some of the same issues he’s been discussing on the campaign trail; the economy, crime and education.
On the economy, Cameron says it’s the number one issue voters are concerned about during his trips on the campaign trail.
“The reason they do so is because inflation is destroying the savings and the earnings of our citizens,” Cameron said.
Cameron also pushed back on Gov. Andy Beshear’s, D-Ky., claims that the state’s economy is on a win streak. Beshear has recently touted the state’s record low unemployment rate of 3.7% and investments from major companies.
“The governor cites that there are more jobs now than we’ve had previously, but that’s because folks are having to work two and three jobs to make ends meet,” Cameron said. “There are 80,000 folks who are on unemployment, and we have the 47th lowest workforce participation rate in the nation.”
The state’s top cop also said violence in the commonwealth is rising. According to Cameron, murders in rural communities have risen 68% and a 30% increase across the state.
“These are troubling numbers, and we certainly need a governor who's going to lean in to address the spike we’ve seen in violent crime,” Cameron said.
Cameron touted his 12-point public safety plan which includes increased recruitment of officers, a standalone carjacking bill and establishing a KSP post in Louisville.
“My plan is to be a recruiter for the Kentucky State Police and have more folks sign-up, go through training and have them in our 120 counties,” Cameron said.
Cameron also addressed education, saying the governor’s decision to shut down schools in 2020 contributed to learning loss and stated the next governor will appoint nine of 11 members to the state board of education.
“You need leadership in this state that is going to appoint people that recognize our schools need to be about reading, writing and math and they don’t need to be incubators for progressive ideas,” Cameron said.
The gubernatorial hopeful also touting his catch-up plan which he says would allow a fully funded tutoring program, restore classroom discipline and ensure more money goes to teachers and classrooms.
Rotary Club is a non-partisan service organization. Rotarians heard from Lieutenant Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky., at a prior meeting. Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 7. For more information on the elections, visit the Spectrum News 1 Voter’s Guide.
