Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Network 39 hits the news

I have to say that originally, I did endorse Sen. Carroll's idea of a Committee of 29 to decide our next candidate, but now, I'm not so sure.

Here's what hit the news today.
Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, helped create Network 39 to bring all the different Democratic constituencies together. The group includes labor organizations, business leaders, teachers, state employees and several former Democratic governors.

Its not a committee, but a network of representatives, Carroll said. We want every conceivable constituency to be consulted.

The group recently held a meeting to focus on state and local elections. Carroll hopes to hold another meeting at the end of November or in early December to help select a candidate for governor.

By then, hopefully well have some idea of whats going on with respect to the gubernatorial race, he said.

Right now, Carroll said the situation is very uncertain. Democratic Congressman Ben Chandler said he would decide about making a bid for the governors office soon after Tuesdays election. Because the Democrats took back control of both the House and Senate, it appears unlikely Chandler would leave Washington, Carroll said.

Ben Chandler is not a candidate in my opinion, he said. He cant afford to leave Congress.

Last week, Chandler told The State Journal he might be able to do more for his constituents if he stayed in Congress and won more committee assignments, perhaps even a seat on the powerful Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Chandler said he would make a decision before Thanksgiving.

I have to wait for the dust to settle, he said.

Until then, the field includes several possible candidates, including Attorney General Greg Stumbo, House Speaker Jody Richards, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, state Auditor Crit Luallen, former Lt. Gov. Steve Henry and Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith.

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