The Kentucky Treasurer’s office deserves someone with financial experience | Opinion
.png "The Herald-Leader endorses Democrat Michael Bowman (left) for Kentucky’s Treasurer in the Nov. 7, 2023, general election. Republican Mark Metcalf is his opponent.")
The role of Kentucky treasurer is sometimes considered to be ceremonial, with seats on boards like the Teachers’ Retirement System, and the Kentucky Lottery. But the treasurer also has to deposit state revenues, manage unclaimed property and withhold the proper taxes from state employees.
We think Michael Bowman is the best one for the job. A former bank officer with U.S. Bank, he has most recently worked as a special assistant to Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman in the education and labor cabinet. He wants to focus on transparency and much-needed financial literacy in Kentucky. He ran for this seat in 2019, losing to incumbent Allison Ball.
His opponent, Mark Metcalf, is the longtime Garrard County Attorney. He did not respond to a request for an interview, and it’s not clear exactly how his deep experience in the law will help in the Treasurer’s role.
Bowman’s background in finance will help him in two of his goals — to expand existing financial literacy programs across the state and to provide more grounded advice to the public boards he sit on. His past four years working within the Beshear administration has given him a deep understanding of how state government works and how it can do better.
“It’s been 40 years since we’ve had anyone with a financial background in the Treasurer’s position,” he told the editorial board. “I’m someone who understands what it means to invest in the pension fund and get returns.”
We believe strongly that constitutional offices, like all of state government, benefit from a mix of party representation, and Bowman’s energy and enthusiasm for this work could also serve as a role model for other Democrats who may hesitate to jump into public service. All power to one party is not healthy, no matter which party is in charge, and Democrats have a long, hard road ahead to rebuild. Bowman is a natural standard-bearer.
We agree and think Bowman has earned our endorsement.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy we endorse
Newspapers have a long history of political endorsements that give voters more insight into candidates before casting their ballots. Read more about why the Herald-Leader values this process before elections.
Why endorsements are important
The Herald-Leader believes the tradition of candidate endorsements enhances interest and participation in the civic process, whether readers agree with the newspaper’s recommendations or not. The paper has unusual access to candidates and their backgrounds, and considers part of its responsibility to help citizens sort through campaign issues and rhetoric.
An endorsement represents the consensus of the editorial board. The decisions have no connection to the news coverage of political races and is wholly separate from journalists who cover those races.
Unendorsed candidates can respond with 250-word letters that will be published as soon as possible.
This story was originally published October 27, 2023 at 12:33 PM.