Keep Russ Meyer in 39th House seat

Incumbent Russ Meyer, D-Nicholasville, gets our endorsement to return for a second term representing the 39th District, which is largely comprised of Nicholasville and Jessamine County but includes a few precincts in southern Fayette County.

His challenger, attorney Robert Gullette, is personable and appears to be genuinely interested in public service. But during his interview with the editorial board and in his campaign materials his solutions to the large problems facing Kentucky are more ideological than practical. For example, while he said Kentucky needs tax reform he had not taken the time to review the report of the 2012 Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform, the most recent comprehensive look at the state’s taxing system.

Meyer, who won a seat in the legislature in 2014 after serving 13 years in Nicholasville city government — the last eight as mayor — brings a greater depth of knowledge of the complexities facing the state and its communities and how to address them. “Ideas are easy and solutions are not so easy,” Meyer correctly observed in his interview with the board.

As a former mayor, he said, he understands how state-level policies can impact local governance. For the public pensions that cover not only state employees but many county and city workers as well, he noted that reducing pension benefits to save money could make it harder for communities to hire and retain qualified workers.

The two men, neither of whom was opposed in his party’s primary this spring, hold similar positions on several hot-button cultural issues. Each is anti-abortion, opposed to allowing transgender individuals to use the rest rooms of their gender identity, and opposed to restrictions on gun ownership and universal background checks.

But Meyer supported a statewide smoking ban (with an exception for private clubs and cigar bars) and understands the importance of the Affordable Care Act to Kentuckians. Meyer, whose occupation is selling group health insurance, pointed out that premiums rose before the ACA was passed and have continued to since. While costs have not declined, he said, “it’s saved a lot of people’s lives.”

It is disappointing that Meyer has run ads implying that Gullette, whose practice includes criminal defense work, is either soft on crime or friendly to drug dealers or both. This well-worn tactic of maligning a lawyer for defending a person accused of a crime shows a lack of respect for and understanding of our justice system, which relies upon capable representation.

This race has gained visibility beyond the district in part because of Meyer’s allegation that Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and his chief of staff, Blake Brickman, threatened him with political retribution if he did not switch parties. Bevin and Brickman deny the allegations. This political fight, the editorial board decided, was not really important in choosing the more capable candidate.

We encourage Gullette’s interest in public service and suggest that he gain some experience at a more local level. Meyer is the better choice in this election.

This story was originally published October 26, 2016 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Keep Russ Meyer in 39th House seat."