Senate Candidates Hubbard and Humphries Debate on WKMS

1st District State Senate Candidates Carroll Hubbard (D) and Stan Humphries (R) debated live at 11:00 on WKMS Friday during Sounds Good.

Humphries is currently serving his second term as Trigg County Judge Executive. This is Humphries first campaign for state office.

Hubbard is a lawyer and former 1st District U.S. Rep. who served Kentucky from 1975 to 1993. Hubbard also held the 1st district senate seat in the late 1960's.  Hubbard has also sought the 2nd and the 1st state senate seats respectively in 2006 and 2008.

The first district encompasses seven western Kentucky counties: Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon and Trigg.

The two candidates discussed ways to decrease unemployment and make western Kentucky more attractive for businesses.

Both candidates hope Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville) will accept a circuit judgeship if asked by Governor Steve Beshear (D).

Both Hubbard and Humphries  support legalizing hemp production in the Commonwealth.

On Kentucky's weak retirement systems, Hubbard says future retirees should not expect the same system as in the past. He also suggests that lawmakers should set an example and either reject legislative pensions or see a drastically reduced pension for lawmakers. Hubbard also noted that he would support selling bonds to help shore up the system if the return was guaranteed to boost the system's coffers.   Humphries suggests leaving the Kentucky Teachers Retirement (KTRS) alone because it is solvent. He  suggests the rest of the pension system be moved to a 401K style or hybrid program.

The entire debate is available for listening here at WKMS.ORG.