Update on Ron Geary

The Henderson Gleaner gives us an update on Ron Geary and his potential run for Governor. He claims that he'll be a long shot if he runs.

Ellis Park owner Ron Geary acknowledged Tuesday that he has been approached about running for governor, but said he would prefer to back someone else who would support casino gambling.

"I'm definitely a longshot" so far as becoming a candidate, Geary, a Democrat, said following a speech to the Henderson Lions Club.

Geary, a Louisville businessman, served as Kentucky's secretary of revenue in Gov. John Y. Brown's administration in the early 1980s.

But he is better known as the chairman and former CEO of ResCare, a Louisville-based nursing home company he built up from 1,300 employees to more than 40,000.

After retiring as CEO last spring, he acquired Ellis Park from Churchill Downs Inc. for an undisclosed amount and has purchased a house on South Elm Street in Henderson.

Geary's name has popped up repeatedly recently as a possible candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor. Earlier this month, state Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) told The Lexington Herald-Leader that Geary had indicated he planned to conduct a poll and had sold $5 million of stock to prepare for a possible run.

"I had several retired governors call me," Geary said. "They knew of my experience and my success with ResCare, which I made into the sixth-largest company in Kentucky from scratch ...

"They feel people may want someone who is not politically oriented who would run the state like a business," which was Brown's campaign theme.

"I'm flattered," Geary said.

For now, he said, "I'm looking for someone I can support,"

"But if I can't find someone, I'll have to take a look at who's left in the field," he said. The deadline for filing is Jan. 31.