2007: Democrats Divided

I'll publically admit that I am in the "Good Government Wing" of our party. Either way, check out Ronnie Ellis' article in the Meadville Tribune.

But the press may be neglecting an equally divided Democrat Party. One prominent Democrat said recently, “You may not realize this, but our party is split right down the middle.”

On one side is the “good government wing” of Congressman Ben Chandler, state Auditor Crit Luallen, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Terry McBrayer and former Gov. Brereton Jones. On the other are Attorney General Greg Stumbo, Democrat Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan and their supporters in the Legislature.

Because Democrats want so badly to win back the governor’s office, Chandler is the prohibitive favorite to win next year’s gubernatorial election although he isn’t universally popular in his own party after taking on the Patton administration and some Democrats in the legislature. But if he doesn’t run, the good government group is determined to deny Stumbo the nomination and to remove Lundergan as chairman. The rumor is the good government group will choose one of their number behind which Chandler and company will rally.

“The next governor will either have gray hair or white hair,” McBrayer said recently. “There’s a frustration out there with the process. (Voters) want someone who has the experience and the background to lead.”

Luallen’s hair is gray, McBrayer’s white. In separate interviews which occurred months apart, the two sound remarkably similar. Both say it’s time to offer voters straight talk about hard choices Kentucky must confront – and risk the outcome on the ability of voters to choose leadership over focus group-tested sound bites and empty promises.