By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI
FRANKFORT —
David Williams sounds more and more like a man planning to run for governor.
Often critical of incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, Williams — the Republican President of the state Senate — seized upon news the state had again been left out in the award of competitive education grants to blame Beshear.
On Wednesday, Williams appeared on WHAS-84 Radio’s Mandy Connell Show to blame Beshear for a lack of leadership on charter schools. Williams said Kentucky’s failure to authorize charter schools clearly is the reason the state twice made the finalist list for Race to the Top grants but each time failed to win final approval.
When Connell asked Williams what he would do differently were he governor, Williams said it’s necessary for a governor to “have an agenda yourself.”
“You can’t be a Columbus,” Williams continued. “You know, Columbus was mistaken where he was going. When he got there, he didn’t know where he was. When he got back, he didn’t know where he’d been and he did it all on borrowed money. Gov. Beshear is the Columbus of state government.”
Beshear, through his campaign spokesman, declined to comment.
“It is too early to start talking about next year’s campaign,” said Matt Osborne when asked to respond. “Right now Governor Beshear and (running mate) Mayor (Jerry) Abramson are focused on helping Kentuckians through these tough economic times, and creating and maintaining jobs across the state.”
But outgoing Beshear Chief of Staff Adam Edelen had a comeback for Williams.
“I’ll take Columbus over the flat earth,” Edelen said.
Williams has openly talked about running for governor next year, saying he’s in discussions with Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer who Williams wants to be his lieutenant governor running mate.
When news broke Tuesday that Kentucky had once again failed to be named a Race to the Top state, Williams immediately called a press conference in his office, criticizing Beshear and the Democratic House which opposes charter schools.
During that conference, Williams was asked when he would announce if he would run for governor.
“You’ll know sooner rather than later,” Williams said.
Beshear actually preceded Williams on the radio show Tuesday, telling Connell the state will continue to look at charter schools, adding he’d told leaders of the two legislative chambers he would put the question on the agenda for this past May’s special session — if both could agree on legislation.
But House leaders said at the time there is no sentiment for charter schools in that chamber.
Williams said Beshear should have shown more leadership in persuading House opponents and teachers’ groups to support the measure.
“He’s wasn’t for charter schools, he’s never been for charter schools,” Williams said.
Williams, who is from rural Cumberland County in southern Kentucky, went out of his way Wednesday to address concerns specific to Louisville and Jefferson County. He said he will pre-file legislation to overcome a court ruling which said the law allows parents to enroll children in neighborhood schools but not specifically to attend that school. Jefferson County Public Schools operate on a student assignment plan based on income which replaced a previous court ordered desegregation plan.
He also said he has family ties to the state’s largest urban area.
“The vast majority of folks related to me at least on my father’s side live — and one of them teaches — in Jefferson County,” Williams said on the Louisville radio show.
Beshear, his running mate, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Williams and Farmer are all scheduled to attend the Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair Thursday morning.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
