Haire pushes own experience after KET debate

During last night's debate between the two Democratic candidates for the 2nd Congressional District, it became clear that state Senator David Boswell (D-Sorgho) would focus extensively on his 31 years of experience in state government as his principal campaign theme. Boswell referenced his time served in Frankfort at every opportunity, arguing it prepared him best for a seat in Congress. Opponent and Daviess County Judge/Executive Reid Haire did not concede the experience issue while debating, but he seemed unable to find a consistent thread like Boswell.

Haire's campaign has not ignored the candidate's own time in government. The campaign's recent television ad - the first up on the air in the race - focuses on the candidate's accomplishments in his ten years as County Judge/Executive (a position unique to Kentucky and roughly equivalent to the County Executives position in other states). After last night's debate, Haire reiterated that his service in local government should not be discounted, and contrasted it to serving during a state legislative session.

"I look at the nature of what I have had to do in the last ten years and local government is where the rubber meets the road," Haire told PolitickerKY.com. "Citizens hold you accountable every day, not 60 days a year while you are in another locality and they hear about what you do in a newspaper."

"Citizens see you on a regular basis and you deal with their specific needs," Haire continued.

Haire claimed working in local government offered him challenges he approached differently from his counterparts in other areas. He specifically pointed to the expansion of broadband internet in his County and the growth of Western Kentucky University into Owensboro.

"You have to recognize shortfalls," said Haire. "We did not have a four year university...so I had to go out locally, buy land, and borrow money to buy classrooms. All these other communities sit back and wait for the state to do it."

Haire also said he was off-put by some of the questioning during the KET debate, and argued other questions may have offered viewers a different perspective on the candidates.

"The questions were substantive, but I was looking for more global questions. There was no health care discussion and no general question on the economy," said Haire. "I'd have asked about more global issues to get feel of how candidate sees himself on these big picture policy issues."

The winner of the May 20 Democratic primary in the 2nd District will go on to face state Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green) in the general election.