Adam Edelen in 2019 KY Governor's race
On Abortion:
Abortion rights are vital to ensuring equality for women
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear picked up a last-minute endorsement from a staunch national abortion rights group in his bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor. The National Association to Repeal Abortion Laws, also known as NARAL,
said they endorsed Beshear in a tight race on the eve of Kentucky's primary election because he represents the best chance to beat Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in November.Said Beshear, "I have consistently stood up to
Matt Bevin when he has tried to undermine and attack women's rights. Others may say they are pro-choice, but I am the only candidate in this race who has done more than just talk when it comes to a woman's right to choose."
Beshear earned the endorsement over former state auditor Adam Edelen, who has said abortion rights are vital in order to ensure equality for women, and House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, who voted for several anti-abortion bills this year.
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2019 Kentucky Gubernatorial race
May 20, 2019
On Abortion:
Unwavering support of women's right to health care decisions
Q: What will you do to expand or restrict access to reproductive health care?A: A modern Kentucky must recognize women's full equality, and that equality must include the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.
Ours is the only campaign that has never wavered on a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, and neither Gill nor I have ever run on a platform based on limiting those rights.
Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
May 10, 2019
On Social Security:
Fully fund government pensions; reform state system
Q: What sacrifices should public employees and taxpayers expect to make to fix the state retirement system?A: Why do we always ask working people to make sacrifices when it was Frankfort lawmakers, Wall Street lobbyists and retirement system board
members who put us in this position today? This system will not work until it is fully funded, but the system will never be able to fulfill its goal of providing a stable retirement for hardworking government employees until it is cleaned up.
For too long, Frankfort has been run by those who are more focused on helping out the good old boys or giving contracts out for kickbacks than on Kentucky's working families. I think that every Kentuckian should be asking why the legislators'
pension system is nearly fully funded. When I'm governor, no one who donated a dime to my campaign will be given a say in where working people's pensions are invested as some kind of shady political favor.
Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
May 10, 2019
On Tax Reform:
No increased tax burden on poor and working Kentuckians
Q: Do you support Kentucky eliminating the income tax and going to a more consumption-tax based model?A: No. The misguided tax "reforms" of recent years have placed an increased burden on poor and working
Kentuckians while cutting taxes for banks, big corporations, and the well-off. Without redistributive measures, eliminating the income tax would be just another step in the direction of putting a greater burden on those struggling to get by.
Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
May 10, 2019
On Crime:
Police departments should reflect diversity of community
La Casita, a Latinx activist group, hosting a bilingual forum for the governor's race, brought up the issue of racial profiling, or "driving while brown," and asked the candidates what they would do to combat racial profiling within the Kentucky State
Police. Edelen said the issue stems from police departments that don't reflect the diversity of the communities they represent. He said if elected, he'd work to encourage young people of color to consider a career in law enforcement.
Source: Insider Louisville blog on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
Apr 26, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Jobs for out-of-work coal miners in renewable energy
Edelen touted his work as a renewable energy developer. He said he's this year he will break ground on the largest solar installation in Kentucky by ten times, and it will bring $130 million in capital investment,
creating jobs for out-of-work coal miners. "Folks, if we can create opportunity in the forgotten places using renewable energy, why can't we do it right here in Louisville? Why can't we create the jobs of the future?"
Source: Insider Louisville blog on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
Apr 26, 2019
On Immigration:
Think about human impact of anti-immigrant laws
The moderator asked if the candidates would allow undocumented immigrants to have a driver's license. He said many undocumented people get pulled over for a minor issue and they don't have a license. They are afraid to go to court for fear of being
deported. There are 12 states that allow undocumented driver's licenses.Beshear's representative said he doesn't know what Andy Beshear thinks about undocumented people getting driver's licenses.
He blamed the fear of deportation on the hatred and intimidation coming from Washington.
Adam Edelen admitted that he wasn't aware of the problem. "I have a campaign where we have DREAMers working on our campaign.
I'm ashamed that I've never thought about the human impact on a basic level of people just trying to live their lives."
Source: Insider Louisville blog on 2019 Kentucky governor's race
Apr 26, 2019
On Education:
Support teachers with pensions and more in classroom
Edelen was highly critical of politicians in Frankfort. On education, he said Democrats are playing defense against cuts to education rather than leading the way. "We must reclaim the mantle of reform back from those who don't believe in public
education," Edelen said. "You see a lot of the political class in Frankfort playing defense. Well folks, games aren't won for playing defense."He added that politicians should be doing more than protecting teachers' pensions.
Edelen said he hopes modernizing the economy and rewriting the tax code will help provide the necessary revenue to pay for Kentucky's financially-ailing public pension systems.
"Folks, protecting pensions isn't the best we can do;
it's the least we can do," Edelen said. "Merely protecting pensions doesn't change the fact that every teacher I know buys materials for their kids out of their pockets."
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Install solar panels on reclaimed surface mines
Edelen is trying to position himself as the businessman in the contest. In April 2017, Edelen and other business partners announced they were studying the possibility of installing tens of thousands of solar panels on a reclaimed surface mine in
Pike County. He said that the project is expected to move forward in Eastern Kentucky in the coming weeks, and said a commitment to renewable energy could help bring jobs to the state."Let me say something that no candidate for Kentucky governor ever
has, though every farmer and hunter knows it to be true," Edelen said. "Climate change is real and so are the thousands of jobs that can be created fighting it."
That project was one of many appeals Edelen made to the progressive base of the
Democratic Party in the aftermath of his upset loss to state Auditor Mike Harmon in 2015. He also toured the state proclaiming a message that the Kentucky Democratic Party must find a way to appeal to rural voters who have fled to the Republican Party.
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2019
On Technology:
Modernize to new economy including rural broadband internet
in the aftermath of his upset loss to state Auditor Mike Harmon in 2015. He also toured the state proclaiming a message that the Kentucky Democratic Party must find a way to appeal to rural voters who have fled to the
Republican Party. Edelen addressed that issue with a pledge to bring broadband internet access to all corners of the state and to help modernize Kentucky's economy: "The sad fact is that today's leaders are chasing yesterday's economy,"
Edelen said. "Underfunding education, depressing wages, eliminating workplace and environmental safeguards may have been attractive to aging industrialists a generation ago,
but they are repulsive to the new economy entrepreneurs that hold the keys to the economic future."
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Kentucky Kick Start: make Main Streets bustling again
Kentucky's history and heritage was built on the main streets of our cities and small towns. Unfortunately, for decades we've watched too many Kentucky main streets go from bustling centers of commerce, arts and civic life to empty spaces and
boarded-up storefronts. We are going to rebuild Kentucky, and we need to start by rebuilding our main streets--one block at a time.A "Kick Start" to Growth and Revitalization: The Edelen-Holland Team are ready to help lead a renaissance in delivering
economic and cultural vitality to our main streets.
One of the greatest barriers to channeling investment into Kentucky communities is matching national capital with local opportunity. The Kentucky Kick Start will create a simple, searchable and
scalable platform for local communities to showcase investment opportunities, as well as community needs, to investors no matter whether they are a company looking for room to grow or an individual seeking the right environment to open a new business.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Drugs:
More beds in Kentucky to treat the scourge of addition
Treatment for substance abuse disorders should not be a luxury. There is a shameful lack of beds in Kentucky to treat the scourge of addition and those we do have are often inaccessible to communities that need them most. While there are costs that come
along with expanding treatment to those who are suffering, the bad actors who pushed opioids on our community should be the ones to foot the bill.- Adam Edelen will work to ensure that funds recovered from out of the state pharmaceutical companies
who created this problem go toward community based addiction treatment.
- Expanded Drug Court: Offer a path toward recovery and for low level and first time drug offenders.
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We can prevent thousands of our people from entering the criminal justice pipeline, and also help keep Kentucky families intact as one of their loved ones received the tools and skills they need.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Education:
Don't make schools profit centers for charter corporations
Too many of our school districts are underfunded or allowing resources that should be spent in the classroom to be consumed by administration and bureaucracy. There is no "silver bullet" that will solve Kentucky's education problems, but it's certainly
not the idea that we need to turn our education system into a profit center for out-of-state charter school corporations. We need a new approach to public education by embracing evidence-based strategies, new technologies, and a commitment to
leaving failed ideas behind. - Universal Pre-K Make sure students have the tools and baseline skills necessary to achieve and excel.
- Respecting Kentucky TeachersTreat Kentucky teachers like the professionals they are.
Our teachers have been insulted and scapegoated.
- Funding Education, not Bureaucracy Ensure that state dollars make their way to the classrooms where they belong, not burnt up in administrative bureaucracy.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Education:
Make college affordable to the children of working families
Kentucky's students are being left behind--and Frankfort is making it worse.- Affordable Higher Education A child with the ability to attend college and put their skills to work for Kentucky should not be turned away by cost of a
higher education. The leaders of tomorrow in Kentucky need an affordable education that allows them to build a life unsaddled by decades of student loan debt. Making college affordable to the children of working families will be a day-one priority for
Adam Edelen's administration.
- Real Opportunity for Students To empower students to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy, Adam Edelen will work with schools, community colleges, four-year universities,
and private industry to provide students with college credit classes, clear pathways to a degree, or the skills education that will make them career ready for our rapidly changing 21st century.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Climate change is real; renewables key to tomorrow's jobs
Kentucky is losing business and jobs because we have resisted Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards. Time after time, Kentucky is passed over from outside investment from companies committed to growing in states who have embraced renewable energy,
costing us the 21st century jobs we desperately need.A bold initiative and private industry know-how in renewable energies, like solar, hydro and wind, will place Kentucky on track to capture the new investment and jobs that currently pass us by.
It's past time for Kentucky to commit to renewable energy, but it's not too late. Climate change is real and renewable energy is key to securing tomorrow's jobs.
By retrofitting our government facilities to capture inexpensive and providing the
incentives for energy audits as soon as possible, renewable energy that costs pennies compared to what our local government facilities now pay we can decrease the expense of government and pass the savings on to taxpayers.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Government Reform:
Zero Tolerance: put crooked politicians behind bars
As State Auditor, Adam Edelen took corruption head on and put crooked politicians behind bars. His record of fighting those who pad their wallets at taxpayer expense will expand with a new era of
Zero Tolerance for corruption in Frankfort. Kentucky has waited long enough for an honest and ethical government that puts people first.
Money from faceless PACs has helped corrode our political system and shake the faith Kentuckians have in their government. To bring real change to Kentucky, the voices of hard working people need to be heard, not drowned out by special interests.
Adam Edelen is committed to running a campaign powered by people, and is the only candidate for Governor who won't take a dime of PAC money.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Government Reform:
Restore Kentucky Commission on Women; 50% women in Cabinet
In his last proposed budget, Matt Bevin shamefully gutted funding to 70 programs under the Kentucky Commission on Women. These important programs did everything from combating domestic violence, working to stop the evil or human trafficking as well as
funding programs to encourage young women to pursue an education in the sciences or engineering.Adam Edelen will not only restore funds for these vital programs but also promote the Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Women to a member
of the Governor's Cabinet. Programs that are there to empower and provide Kentucky women and girls real opportunities and needed protections will no longer be treated as optional or as bargaining chips in a state budget.
Adam is committed to ensuring
that the leadership in his administration represents all Kentucky, including Kentucky women. Under an Edelen administration no less than half of the Cabinets will be led by women as its past time we ensure everyone's voice is being heard in Frankfort.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Health Care:
Protect ObamaCare and expanded Medicaid
Protecting and Funding Healthcare for Kentucky: In recent years Kentucky finally took some bold, and long overdue, steps forward in offering affordable and reliable healthcare to our people. Since then however, Kentucky families have watched
Washington DC and Frankfort politicians play cat and mouse with their healthcare, erecting barriers to enrollment and programs designed to discourage Kentuckians from signing up for the affordable healthcare they need.
It's time to stop using the healthcare of over 500,000 Kentuckians as a political football. Adam Edelen is committed to not only protecting the coverage of those who receive health insurance from the
ACA but also working to strengthen the financial position of Kentucky's recently expanded Medicaid population.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
On Jobs:
Ensure that Kentucky workers are paid a living wage
A Living Wage: Right, Just & Long Overdue: We can't move the Commonwealth forward without accepting the fact that working people are working harder than ever while wages in Kentucky, like much of the country, have grown stagnant.
It is unacceptable for a Kentucky family to work hard every day only to find themselves unable to meet even their most basic needs. Adam Edelen supports ensuring that Kentucky workers are paid a living wage.
Source: 2019 Kentucky governor campaign website AdamEdelen.com
Dec 31, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021