RACE FOR STATE SENATOR TO REPRESENT 26TH DISTRICT HAS POTENTIAL TO BE CONTENTIOUS

As we all know by now, the Democrats at the state level and leaders from the horse industry lobby are after Senator Ernie Harris because he voted against the video slots legislation. Some of them have been very forthright about that, including the Democratic leadership in Frankfort. What may surprise some people is the fact that some well known and active Republicans in Oldham County seem poised to help the Democrats achieve their goal. Apparently, the Republicans have a short memory regarding what Senator Harris has done for the county. Surely, this one issue could not be that important to them. There has also been talk regarding opposition from the alcohol industry to Harris’ re-election based upon his vote for higher alcohol taxes.

I suspect that there will be one or two Republicans run against Senator Harris in the primary election, perhaps with the idea of softening him up for a Democrat to run against him in the general election. Who might be his opponents?

I have heard that former state representative Jim Zimmerman, a Republican, has had contact with the governor’s office regarding his availability as a candidate. I have also heard that John Black, the former Mayor of LaGrange and former Oldham County Judge-Executive has been considering a change in his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican (following the path of his brother-in-law David Voegele). If that were to happen, I could see him as a potential challenger. Then, I would expect that State Representative Rick Rand (D) might vie for the Democratic nomination to oppose the Republican nominee in the general election. Rand held the seat before losing it to Harris.

In any event, I expect some local and county officials as well as some other influential Republicans and Democrats to support opponents of Senator Harris. While I have not always agreed with Senator Harris, I have not heard any name mentioned that I would support instead of him. I have often felt that Senator Harris allowed some people in Oldham County to have an undue amount of influence with him. I predict that some of those same people will now work to unseat him.
This will be one of several hotly contested races in Oldham County in 2010.