Kentucky statewide Democratic candidates rallied supporters and practiced jabs against their Republican opponents Friday night at the annual Mike Miller Bean Dinner in Marshall County, ahead of Saturday’s Fancy Farm Picnic. The Democratic dinner is one of many political events in the region ahead of the picnic.
Gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Andy Beshear used the dinner as an opportunity to attack specific members of Governor Matt Bevin’s administration.
Beshear, in a tweet before the event, called on Bevin to fire Kentucky Labor Cabinet Secretary David Dickerson, saying the secretary failed to secure a bond from the bankrupt Blackjewel coal company that could have paid east Kentucky coal miners protesting the company to give them back pay.
“If he had done his job, if he had required that the law been followed, there could have been a bond that could have paid the wages of the Harlan miners from the Blackjewel site,” Beshear said in a media gathering before the dinner. “Shame on them for not doing their job, and real people are suffering, in part, because of it.”
In a speech at the dinner, he led a “you’re fired” chant with the hundreds of people in the audience. Beshear said he’s assigned an investigator to look into opening a criminal investigation regarding the company.
Governor Matt Bevin at a Republican dinner in the region the same night, when asked about Beshear’s demand, called him a “buffoon”.
Attorney General Candidate Greg Stumbo said, if elected, he would investigate allegations made by Republican state Representative Robert Goforth, that the governor funneled public pension proceeds to a hedge fund managed by his (Bevin’s) friends. Goforth challenged Bevin in a May primary election.
Other Democratic candidates in speeches at the dinner cracked jokes at Republican candidates running for state and federal offices. Agriculture Commissioner candidate Robert Conway attacked current Republican Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles for allegedly wearing expensive clothes in a campaign video.
“I saw one of [Quarles’] commercials two days ago. I thought I was going to throw up. I was right,” Conway said. “He walked across the field in $150 Gucci pants and a $300 pair of boots talking about agriculture in Kentucky.”
State Auditor candidate Sheri Donahue jabbed Senator Mitch McConnell, saying she didn’t want to get caught with a “resting ‘Mitch’ face” - in reference to a colloquialism for a facial expression.
The 139th annual Fancy Farm is June 3 in Graves County. The spirited event is known for its stump speeches and political mudslinging. Candidates on both sides of the political aisle quickly make their case as to why voters should choose them while taking potshots at their opponents. The speeches start at 2 p.m. Central Time and will be live streamed on KET.
