FRANKFORT —
Actress and activist Ashley Judd may be getting closer to a decision on whether to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Larry Clark, the Democratic Speaker Pro Tem of the state House, told CNHI News Wednesday Judd called him and they talked about the race.
“I told her I was in session and I’d be happy to talk to her in a couple of weeks,” Clark said.
Later, House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Judd had called his cell, but he hadn’t spoken with her so far.
“She tried to call my cell,” Stumbo told reporters before convening the House Wednesday afternoon. “She left a message — but the message was ‘Hi, Mr. Adkins.’”
Rocky Adkins is the Democratic Majority Leader in the House. He, like Stumbo, is from eastern Kentucky and is a strong supporter of coal.
Adkins and Stumbo have been among those Democrats expressing reservation about a Judd candidacy in Kentucky because she’s an outspoken critic of mountaintop removal mining.
Judd has been pondering a run for the Democratic nomination next year to oppose McConnell in the fall. But the actress currently lives in Tennessee and would have to re-establish residency in Kentucky before she can run.
U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, has encouraged Judd to consider the race and the possibility of the Hollywood actress and perhaps the best known University of Kentucky basketball fan in the country, has excited national Democrats and donors.
But the idea has been met with reservation by conservative Democrats who say Judd’s outspoken views on some social issues and mining won’t fare well, especially in eastern Kentucky. Some fear she’ll be a drag on the Democratic ticket next year when state House races are also on the ballot and Republicans are looking to take control of the House.
Judd is a University of Kentucky graduate and often is shown on national telecasts of UK men’s basketball games. She is the daughter of Naomi Judd and sister of Wynona of Ashland.
She is currently living in Tennessee and recently announced she and her husband, Formula One race car driver Dario Francitti, are divorcing.
Republican forces have already begun preparing for a possible Judd candidacy. American Crossroads, which is run by former George W. Bush advisor Karl Rove, has already produced a web video humorously questioning which Democrat will, in the end, challenge McConnell.
In the ad, the narrator pokes fun at Judd for her Tennessee residency and uses edited clips of Judd endorsing President Barack Obama who remains widely unpopular in Kentucky.
Judd also recently met with prospective Democratic donors in Louisville at a meeting also attended by Yarmuth.
Yarmuth has said Judd expects to make a decision about the race by Derby Day in May.
Ed Marksberry of Owensboro has announced he will run in the Democratic primary. Democratic Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes has also been mentioned as a potential candidate but declines to take questions about the race.
Local News
Judd’s decision on run at office may be close
- Local News
-
-
Meth busts in Westwood, Ashland
Boyd County Sheriff’s Department deputies had a busy early Saturday morning with several meth busts in the Ashland area after receiving tips from the public.
-
Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
-
Guitar builder Paul Reed Smith to visit Ashland
Paul Reed Smith isn’t a rock star, although he does have legions of fans who revere his contributions to live and recorded performances worldwide and his name or initials grace the headstocks of guitars used by some of the most recognized names in rock, jazz and country music.
The legendary luthier from Maryland will visit Ashland’s 4 O’Clock Rock Guitar Shop on Wednesday to inspect their collection of his instruments. Store owner Dave McCoy said he was almost immediately overwhelmed with responses after announcing Smith will be at the shop at 2328 Greenup Ave., to meet fans and sign autographs starting at 6 p.m. A crowd is expected to be there, McCoy confirmed Friday afternoon, reporting he expects PRS owners, collectors and fans alike to be in the crowd awaiting Smith’s appearance. -
Wurtland OKs raising residential sewer rates
Wurtland sewer rates for residential customers are going up. Over the next three months, the rates will gradually rise by 30 percent.
The rate increase will affect approximately 500 customers and is necessary in the wake of the closure of Sun Chemical, known as PCI, in February. The residential rate increase follows a prior industrial rate increase of 100 percent, which was implemented in March. -
Wurtland parents angry over principal’s demotion
As many as 10,000 crickets were released by a group of students at East Carter High School on Thursday morning. By Friday, seven seniors had received disciplinary action.
Although school administrators cannot comment about those disciplinary measures, sources say that these students will not be allowed to participate in this morning's commencement. -
RONNIE ELLIS: Fallout from scandals remains to be seen
Scandals like those roiling Washington often look more or less nefarious as time and facts unfold. After all, what at first looked like a third-rate burglary turned into Watergate.
-
05/16/2013 — What's Happening
Local news
-
Assisted living facility gets another perfect score
King’s Daughters and Sons Home assisted living has received a perfect score from the state.
-
Applauding the entrepreneurs among us
If Thursday’s Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards are any indication, entrepreneurialism is alive and well in Ashland and the surrounding areas.
-
Food pantry receives childhood hunger grant
The First United Methodist Church Food Pantry, a Huntington Area Food Bank-affiliated agency, has been selected to receive a grant of $20,000. The funds will be used to implement and maintain childhood hunger programs.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Meth busts in Westwood, Ashland
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
