Photo of Lexington mayor on sheriff candidate’s mailer was used without permission
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said a candidate running to unseat longtime Fayette County Sheriff Kathy Witt has used Gorton’s picture on a recent campaign advertisement without her permission.
Thomas “Tucker” Bulleit, who is running against Witt in the Democratic primary, recently sent a mailer to residents that included a photo of Bulleit and Gorton together.
“In my 19 years in politics I have never endorsed any candidate for office. I have always remained a non-partisan, independent voice for Lexington,” Gorton said. “Although my picture has been used without my permission in a recent campaign mailer, I have not endorsed any candidate in the May 17th primaries and do not intend to.”
Bulleit said he is new to politics and made a mistake by including the photo with Gorton.
“I am new to local politics and completely missed the boat, as our campaign team was hoping to display an ad that showed myself spending time out in the community since we announced candidacy on November 4,” Bulleit said. “The usage of the photo was not to promote her, endorse me or reflect any type of political stance. Linda indicated that this has happened in previous elections and, of course, I didn’t want the voter to think she was endorsing me in some way.”
Bulleit, who is related to the family that started Bulleit Bourbon, has said it’s time for new thinking and a new sheriff in campaign advertisements.
Bulleit previously worked as an intern for a federal judge. He now manages an 800-acre farm in Paris. He’s hoping to emphasize community policing and wants to get troubled youth into beneficial programs to prevent gun violence, according to his campaign website.
Witt has held the position since 1998. Under her leadership, the office has expanded services and protections to domestic violence victims, operates a winter care program that helps deliver medications during winter storm events and has advocated the use of inmate labor to help eradicate unwanted graffiti around Lexington, according to her campaign website. Her office also has upped its outreach to youth through anti-bullying and dating violence prevention programs.
The winner of the May 17 Democratic primary will face Republican Christopher D. Holliday in November. Holliday was the only Republican to file.
This isn’t the first time a candidate’s use of photos in campaign advertisements has been questioned.
In 2018, Gorton’s opponent in the mayor’s race, Ronnie Bastin, also was called out for using photos of former U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler and former Lexington Police Chief Anthany Beatty in campaign advertisements without their permission.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 12:39 PM.
