"Some In GOP Promote David Williams, Richie Farmer Ticket For Governor". So What Say Ye?

Some in GOP promote David Williams, Richie Farmer ticket for governor
By Tom Loftus

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Some leading Republicans are promoting the idea that two of the party's possible gubernatorial candidates next year -- Senate President David Williams and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer -- should team up as a slate for governor and lieutenant governor with Williams in the top spot.

"Richie running with David is really the only credible talk that I'm hearing lately," said Ellen Williams, a former chairwoman of the state Republican Party. "I think that would be a formidable ticket and one that Kentuckians would be excited about."

Larry Forgy, the GOP's 1995 candidate for governor, said a Williams-Farmer ticket would be the best the party could field.

"It has lots of competence and charisma," he said. "I don't have any inside information, but I think it's ultimately going to happen."

Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who is interested in running for lieutenant governor next year, said he would defer if Farmer would agree to be Williams' lieutenant governor running mate.

"That would be a dream ticket for Republicans and Steve Beshear's worst nightmare," he said. "I would fully support that ticket."

Williams said last week that he isn't "a declared candidate for anything except president of the Senate next year, at this juncture."

He said a lot of people are talking to him about a run for governor.

"I appreciate their encouragement," he said. "I think there are a lot of people that believe it's time for a change."

When asked about running with Farmer, Williams said, "I can't take anything for granted, but Richie Farmer would be a good addition to anyone's ticket."

When asked if he wants to be governor, Williams said, "I want to continue to serve the people of the commonwealth of Kentucky in whatever capacity I can and however they feel would be the best capacity I would serve. I have spent most of my adult life doing that, and I am very dedicated to it."

Craig Maffet, chief of staff in Farmer's office, said his boss is considering options for his future. He said he doesn't know what Farmer plans to do.

Both Maffet and another representative in Farmer's office were asked to deliver messages to Farmer seeking comment. He did not respond to those requests.

Williams has been critical of the leadership of Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, who formed a slate with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate last year and began raising funds for the 2011 race.

But so far the only other candidate to register a fundraising committee for governor is Otis Hensley, a Democrat who got just 1 percent of the vote in the 2007 gubernatorial primary.

For months leading Republicans have mentioned both Williams and Farmer among the possible candidates in 2011. But in recent weeks some key Republicans have said they expect the two run as a ticket.

"There are few people that have any more experience and toughness to be governor at this day and time than David Williams," Forgy said. "And Richie Farmer is a vote-getting legend."

Farmer, of Clay County, was the Kentucky high school Mr. Basketball in 1988 and went on to play four years for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, including on the 1992 team known as the "Unforgettables."

He was elected agriculture commissioner in his first race for public office in 2003, and re-elected in 2007. Because state constitutional officers are limited to two consecutive terms, he cannot run for re-election in 2011.

Williams, of Burkesville, has served in the General Assembly since 1985 and has been Senate president since 2000.

Forgy said he has not been told anything definitive by either Williams or Farmer. He said his expectation that the two will run is based on recent conversations with many Republicans across the state.

"David will never have a better chance than now with (Barack) Obama as president and Beshear as governor, and he's spent a lifetime working toward this," Forgy said.

But some Republican leaders say they don't know that either Williams or Farmer has made a decision about 2011.

Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, knows both men well. He said he hasn't talked to Farmer and added that if Williams is running "he has not told me."

Scott Jennings, a Republican political consultant, said several Republicans are looking at the race. But he said he expects most, if not all, the GOP competition to step aside if Williams and Farmer pair up.

"If David and Richie form a ticket, I think it's extremely formidable and would dissuade most others from running in the GOP primary," he said.

In the past decade as Senate leader, Williams has frequently clashed with Democratic governors and legislators. And Democrats say these battles left Williams with many political enemies and a high negative rating in polls.

But Jennings said he believes people "overstate" the importance of Williams' negative ratings and that he isn't viewed as badly as many Democrats think. He noted that Democrats used Williams as a foil in special elections in the Hazard and Bardstown areas in recent years and lost.

State GOP Chairman Steve Robertson declined to discuss the governor's race, saying that "we're all focused on this November," a reference to this year's U.S. Senate race.

Chad Aull, political director for the Beshear campaign, also declined to comment about possible opponents next year.