David Watson pushes 'innovation' in bid for 48th state House district

48th District House candidate David Watson (D-Louisville): Politicker photo

Businessman David Watson (D-Louisville) entered the race for Kentucky's 48th state House District as a political novice in a long-time Republican area. With some prognosticators predicting Republican struggles across the country, and with his family history and business background, Watson speculates he could put up a winning fight against sixteen-year incumbent and Minority caucus chair Bob DeWeese (R-Louisville).

Watson comes from a unique bloodline that he says resonates with many in the district. His father, Merle Watson, was a Democratic Party activist who Watson notes worked as "Ronald McDonald" in Kentucky, contributing to the growth of Ronald McDonald House charities in the area. Watson says his father's legacy in the community has led to support from voters and party insiders who remember his father.

In an interview with PolitickerKY.com, Watson argues he can build upon this foundation to connect with voters with a more "moderate" approach informed by his long history in the private sector, pushing zero-based budgeting and modernization in Frankfort.

"I embrace technology, I embrace innovation, and I want to look at different ways of doing things and seeing the best way to do it," said Watson.

Along those lines, Watson also discusses a unique approach to fundraising, pitching events that "give value" to the donor's dollars.

How did you get into this race?

My father was very involved in politics in the Democratic Party. I always had the penchant and wanted to get involved, but always thought I would need to be ten years older and with my wallet a lot fatter to get involved.

My kids are all getting older and I started looking at the education system and different things going on and trying to raise a family.

And then, you saw this last legislative session - it was a joke.

I thought to myself I could make a difference. I've got a technology background, I can provide good leadership, I've been very active in the community. To me this was kind of just my next step.

I'm on board with MDA. I'm on the board at the Prospect Latin School, which is right in the heart of our district. I volunteer. I've been involved. I've coached for fifteen years - basketball, baseball, and soccer.

I want to be involved , but I'm not going to be coaching anymore because my youngest is going to high school and he's done with everything - so I started looking at politics.

And this is a place I can step in. I didn't do it on a whim... it was just the next logical step for me.

You mentioned your father - did he ever hold elected office?

No he didn't. He was just very active in the party. He's very well-known. He passed away eight or nine years ago, and it's been amazing how everywhere I go, people remember him - Yesterday, I was sitting with [Jefferson County Court Clerk] David Nicholson and we were talking and I said my dad was Merle Watson and he said "you've got to be kidding me."

They all know him. Its been quite interesting.

So, have you gotten a lot of support from people who are already established in politics?

Yes - we have a fundraiser coming up on the 24th. [Jefferson County Attorney] Irv Maze, David Nicholson, and [Jefferson County Property Value Administrator] Tony Lindauer ...are going to host that event for me.

I think they realize the political climate is right for my race here so that leadership is pulling together to support me, and that's very, very important.

In this district, it was a reasonably close race last time between the Democratic challenger and the Republican incumbent - what do you think makes the incumbent more vulnerable or you the right candidate now?

I think it's a little bit of both. If you look at the registration numbers, they've changed. They've been trending more Democratic. The registered R's to D's are within 800 now - they used to be a few thousand different. So that shows something there.

There's about 3,800 independents out in the district.

My message resonates a little differently than the candidate two years ago. [2006 Democratic candidate] Amy Shir ran a fantastic race, but I'm a moderate Democrat. I run small businesses and I understand what it's like.

[Note: Shir lost to DeWeese by 14 points in 2006, running a campaign perceived by some as "too liberal" for the district.]

I think I am a little bit more moderate and I think that resonates with people out there.

You look on the other side of that at the incumbent's part - he hasn't done a lot and hasn't been real visible in the community.

That's one of those things that tell me the time is right.

Then you look nationally. With Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, you saw a lot of youth coming out and getting involved that never saw before. At the state delegate convention in the 48th district, there were 60 some-odd people there when historically there had been 10 or 12.

I don't plan on riding anyone's coattails - because I plan on standing on my own - but people are going to be going to the polls that haven't gone a lot in the past, and they are looking for a change.

Do you think there are going to be some particular issues that you will be able to highlight that will distinguish you from your opponent?

As a parent, I know I am concerned about my kid's education. You look at KEES [Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship] funding - there were votes against KEES funding.

That makes no sense. We are trying to keep our talent in the state. That affects me and that affects all my neighbors. That is an important issue when our kids are going away to college because our economy is tight.

One of the things I have been talking about is zero-based budgeting. I look at government and I think there needs to be a lot more fiscal responsibility.

With zero-based budgeting - which you can't do with critical services - but there are departments where historically they just add 10 percent on to their budget whether they need it or not. Many times I have heard "we've got to spend that budget because if we don't spend it, we are not going to get it next year."

Well, to me that is not a rationale to use when you are talking about people's tax dollars.

It's probably a trite saying now, but we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.

I think we need to look at where our revenue is going and how tax money is being allocated. I think people will find we can tighten government up and be a lot more efficient.

One of the things I want to talk about is that I want to modernize Frankfort.

I run a web-based training company - we develop e-learning for companies. I've seen it a hundred times all over this county with companies - I've come in and been able to cut their training budget but providebetter services through technology. And that's big. We can do that here on a state level.

There are state trainings that go on that spend millions of dollars that we could modernize into web-based e-learning and take advantage of the tools we have at our disposal versus saying ‘we've always done it and it costs us 4 million dollars, but were going to continue doing it that way.'

Back in January, I talked with Lt. Governor Mongiardo [D-Hazard]. He said there really isn't a technology person on the floor, and leadership could be good in that direction.

What are the priorities of your campaign right now?

I've been very involved, but when it comes to politics, of course, I haven't had my name plastered all over the community. That is one of the big priorities is just getting people to know who I am and what my stances are.

Obviously fundraising plays a key role in being able to get that message out with mailers. We've got an aggressive fundraising plan that we are implementing.

We are doing some things a little differently.

How so?

Well, some of the things that we are doing are obviously the standard fundraisers. But we are also looking at doing some things and wrapping them around a business seminar, so that there is value to the dollar for the person that is coming.

And they know it's overt - they understand it's a fundraiser for me. But, I am a businessman, and I understand if I am going to ask business owners to come away from their business and spend 2 or 3 hours, there needs to be value for that. So what I am doing is working with some people who are some professional speakers that speak on coaching and recruiting and the financial aspects of running a business. They are going to present at this.

I've talked to a couple of different people in the political world and giving a "state of the city" type of address on the Metro Council so that people can hear that from kind of an economic standpoint.

And then that will lead right into a cocktail party "fundraiser."

But there will be value to them. When they walk out of there they will realize that not only am I friend of business because I understand where businesses go to saying "wow, I really got something out of this," not "Well, here is my hundred dollar check. Godspeed."

I think that is one of those things that is going to set me apart from my opponent. I am an innovative guy. I am 41 years old - our lives are a little different. I embrace technology, I embrace innovation, and I want to look at different ways of doing things and seeing the best way to do it.

It seems like you have a history in the community, but how do you expand beyond that existing circle and connect with voters? Is there any particular strategy you are using?

We have an extensive walking strategy. We've been out walking and knocking on doors.

It's been really awesome. I know theres a lot of people that hate walking, because of limitations they have or they feel awkward. I don't - I love it.

To me, it's one of the best things you can do if you've got a good message that resonates with people, and say "I want to make a difference and I want you to be a part of my campaign. I don't care if you are a democrat or a republican or independent or libertarian - I don't care."

In my opinion, if I meet them, we are going to be okay. Because I am not some radical - I want what's best for this state.

"Dream Big" is something that I started putting into my talks because it hit me one day. I was talking with a neighbor of mine and we were talking about our kids. And I said, "what I want for my kids and everybody's kids to realize that they can dream and be whatever they want to be."

And he said "yea, I think that's what parents want, is their kids to be able to realize that if they want to be a marine biologist that they can do it if they work hard enough."

"Dream Big" to me is a challenge, and its inspirational and if we can get people to realize it and expect more from our leaders - if you look at this last session, rather than dream, they stayed status quo.

To me that is a rallying call.

To me this is a movement - it's not just a campaign. I realize this is just a state rep race - I'm not running for president or anything. Those aspirations are not out there. But to me, if you want people to buy in, you've got to move them. It can't just all be education or health care. Those are important platforms, but if we pull together there is nothing we can't accomplish, and I want more people with that message to be on the floor of the house and the senate.

Do you think this race is a priority for the state party?

I do.

Have they communicated that to you?

Well, tomorrow I am meeting with Lt. Gov Mongiardo (D-Hazard). I saw Gov. Beshear (D-Lexington) on Saturday. They are interested in this race. The things I am hearing are that "we hear there are some great things happening over there."

If you look at the numbers...this is a very winnable race. I've been saying that since day one.

A good friend of mine is a politico who has been involved in politics for many a moon. When I first got in this race, his reaction was that he said "Dave, I'll be there on election night, and you just walk up and put your head on my shoulder and I'll pat you on the back and tell you did a good job. Lets figure out when you are going to run again."

I met with him three weeks ago and he said "you've got a good opportunity here - this type of cycle comes around every twenty years."

I live in a historically republican led part of the state. I would love to raise above partisan politics and make sure we are doing what we need to do.

To your question - yes, as a Democrat, I think I have the state party's backing. A lot of that is predicated on how you are polling, and we are too early for a poll right now. But I will tell you we are on the radar.

I've gotten calls from leadership and things like that saying "we're watching what you're doing and we are liking what you are doing."

We have a fundraiser planned with [Louisville's Democratic U.S. Rep John] Yarmuth, and that tells me something right there.

When the state leaders start saying "I'll come in and do some stuff for you," - they've got to look at where their time is best spent and the dollars are best spent.

From what I am hearing...we are being looked at very hard.

I understand I am facing a fifteen year incumbent. Its been a long time. But, we are coming off the heels of what [Kentucky Enquirer reporter] Pat Crowley called the "worst legislative session in modern times."

So, I think it is right for some new blood to come in and fresh ideas. And energy wise, you are not going to find people much more energetic than me.