He's back: Hawkins to battle Thieneman in 37th district primary

Like a bad rash that won't go away, former Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins is back on the ballot.

Hawkins joins fellow Republicans Chris Thieneman and John Yuen in filing for the State Senate's recently-redrawn 37th district - a political hot potato that is being thrown around in Franklin County Circuit Court.

Incumbent Senator Perry Clark was drawn out of the district, and therefore is unable to retain his seat.

On the Democratic side, challengers include 21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson, attorney Robert Walker II and Democratic Party insider Steve Bittenbender.

Analysis: This should be an interesting race should all the candidates remain on the ballot. One item of particular interest is Chris Thieneman's current address. On the filing paperwork he submitted to the Secretary of State, Thieneman listed his address as 7650 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258.

7650 Dixie Highway is the address for Fort Locks, a self-storage business of which Thieneman is listed as "manager".

Either Thieneman lives in a storage locker or something is wrong here.

Tan, rested and ready, Doug Hawkins tries to revive a dead political career by running in a race he's already lost. Hawkins was beaten by Perry Clark in a special election in 2006. The special election was ordered after it had been revealed the Republican winner had lied about her address.

The office of State Senate, like other state offices, has a residency requirement. For the Senate: "At the time of election, [the candidate] must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, resided in the State 6 years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen."

There will be more on this contest next week as the new, extended filing deadline approaches and as more information on the candidates becomes available.

Seum is Out of Mayor's Race, As If He Was Ever In....

- WHAS11 is reporting that Dan Seum will not be running for mayor of Louisville. My true and trusty "advisory board" members have been telling me this for a month, and have not squandered the opportunity to say We Told You So. Dan says he wants to stay in the state senate where he can "most effective". Seum will be running against Democratic challenger Marty Meyer for the seat next year.

This particular news item also mentions the really terrible idea of Doug Hawkins running for mayor. One word: Unwinnable.

Big Election, Soon Come

It is only March, and already there are rumblings about the next round of elections. The Rumor Mill is cranked up to full speed around here, and it looks as though we in Southwest Louisville will be treated to two (2) high-profile, high energy races as Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins and State Senator Dan Seum are up for re-election. I'm hearing some names, and they are serious challengers. The rumored candidates are well equipped and would be well financed, and would represent a total change in the way Southwest Louisville is represented at the Metro and State level.

It should be a spirited campaign season, to say the least.

More information soon.

It Is Over

With only a few exceptions, I feel like we did pretty good tonight in Louisville. Yarmuth buried Northup, which was very satisfying to me. A friend of mine saw Northup today on the back of a trolley, waving. No one was waving back. She said it was like Northup on a train heading out of town.

But at least "That One" is now "The One".

Kentucky is still stuck with Mitch, and Boswell got beat by a guy that thinks $7.73 an hour is a good wage. We have a lot of work to do. Have a look at what my buddy Jim @ the Hillbilly Report has to say about it HERE.

Congratulations to Perry Clark and Rick Blackwell. Both of these guys ran clean campaigns while under constant attack from inept and unethical competitors. Residents in the 14th Metro District got Bob Henderson back, for good or ill. Henderson had better use this term wisely, because if a strong Democrat ever emerges in the 14th, he's done.

The judicial races were good, except for that silly Katie King thing. I will never be able to understand why or how that happened.

A new day starts tomorrow, and we have much to discuss. I'll be digging in on the Mayor's new tax on charitable organizations or any other groups looking to host events in the city that may involve a street closure, and I'll take a critical look at who gets the exemptions (yes, there are exemptions). Until then, good night.

Would You Let This Man Give Candy To Your Children?

Most people know that Councilman Doug Hawkins (R-25) is heavily supported and financed by Dr. Frank Simon, the infamous anti-gay rights activist and right-wing nutjob that founded the American Family Association of Kentucky. However, most do not remember one of the most brutal and disgusting political mailers of all time was devised by Dr. Simon four years ago. The mailing raised the hackles of most of the recipients and some council members.

In December 2004, people all over Jefferson County received mailings from Simon's organization with the words, "Warning: Very Vulgar, Not for Children" on the envelope. The letter said gays take part in "unhealthy and unnatural acts" that he calls "too vulgar to mention." It then goes on to mention them. The mailer included a page copied from a medical journal that describes the acts in detail. It also included a vicious slur against the Catholic Church. Then-Council President Kelly Downard, who is Roman Catholic, said he was offended by several portions of the letter, especially one part that he called "anti-Catholic."

Councilman Ron Weston was equally upset. "How does this happen?" he asked. "That this type of information is sent through the mail?" Complaint calls were flooding Metro Council offices. Not only because what happens behind closed doors is now described in black and white in thousands of homes, but because the letter also targets the Catholic Church, citing the priest sex abuse scandal. Weston said, "As a Catholic, when I read it, the first thing that hit me was, that they are trying to take an unfortunate situation in this one religious body to promote their agenda."

Which brings us to this evening, to the Deering Road campus of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, where a shameless Doug Hawkins attempts to turn a trick-or-treat function for young Catholic grade school students into a campaign stop. I spoke with parents of some of the children regarding how they felt about a candidate trolling for votes at a Halloween function for their kids. "Very Tacky", was one response. "Insulting", from a mother participating in the candy giveaway. When I told them Hawkins is not a Catholic, they just got more upset.

I guess he thinks it's okay to bash the Catholics to score donations from Frank Simon, but when you need votes for your Senate race, head on over to the local Catholic church. I'm sure they won't remember what a hopeless partisan hack you really are. Unless they read The Valley Report.

Double-Talking Doug is again being endorsed by, and taking money from these wackos, just as he was in the past, without remorse.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Huge Dem GOTV Rally In Iroquois Park November 1st With ASHLEY JUDD

The following is an email I received from the Kentucky Democratic
Party about a big rally in Iroquois Park on November 1st. If anyone has any information about any "get-out-the-vote" rallies in the South End for Republicans, please let me know.

Please join the Kentucky Democratic Party, Governor Steve Beshear, and special guest Ashley Judd, for a Get out the Vote Rally, November 1, at Iroquois Park Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road, Louisville. Click HERE for map.

Doors open at 3 p.m., program begins at 4:30 p.m.

Other guests include:

Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo

Congressman John Yarmuth

Mayor Jerry Abramson

United States Senate Candidate Bruce Lunsford

Auditor Crit Luallen

Attorney General Jack Conway

Treasurer Todd Hollenbach

Local Elected Officials and Candidates

Because the rally is in his backyard, State Senator Perry Clark is our honorary host and asks that you join us for the biggest GOTV rally of the year. We have the opportunity this year to turn out Democrats in record numbers to the polls, and continue to turn the Bluegrass blue.

We hope to see you on November 1st. And, remember to vote straight Democratic on November 4th.

Sincerely,

Jennifer A. Moore
Chair, Kentucky Democratic Party

Whippin' 'Em Into a Frenzy...

Louisville's LEO Weekly has a good piece on the 37th District Senate race. Read it HERE.

Further Resarch on Hawkins Campaign Contributors

After careful examination of the records filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, Doug Hawkins' campaign for State Senate is largely being financed by a list of Louisville's premier knuckle-dragging crowd that believe people rode around on dinosaurs 4000 years ago. "Dr." Frank Simon, Christopher Smrt, Dana Seum-Stevenson, Renay Davis and a few members of the Zoeller family are among the donors, and the State Republicans finally came up with $20,000 for Doug.

Further research on Doug's opponent, incumbent Senator Perry Clark (D-37) reveals a different story. Notable heavyweights such as AFSCME, Asbestos Workers, Sherriff John Aubrey, Boilermakers Union, candidate David Boswell, Plumbers & Pipefitters Union, Teamsters, PVA Tony Lindauer, United Mine Workers, the Women's Network, UPS, UFCW, John Yarmuth, the Kentucky State Democratic Executive Committee and more have all donated money to Sen. Clark's campaign.

In all, it looks as though Hawkins' appeal is limited to the outer fringes of the party; those that hold views slightly to the right of Benito Mussolini, whereas Senator Clark has broad support from prominent members of the labor community and the Democratic party at large. This will translate in to a victory for Clark, and a win for the district.

Courier-Journal Endorses Clark

On Wednesday, the C-J endorsed Sen. Perry Clark. Here's the text:

Voters in the 37th Senate District have a clear and easy choice, between Democratic incumbent Perry Clark and GOP challenger Doug Hawkins, who most recently has served on Metro Council.

Mr. Hawkins can be counted on to take the most regressive position on almost any issue, from smoking bans to explosives storage. Voters should turn, instead, to Mr. Clark, who served almost 12 years in the House before winning a special Senate election.

Mr. Clark is certainly conservative enough for the 37th District, but he also understands the need for respect and civility. So we enthusiastically endorse Perry Clark.

Sen. Clark Has Mammoth Campaign Fund Edge

According to the Kentucky Register of Election Finance (http://www.kref.state.ky.us/krefsearch), Senator Perry Clark (D-37) has a spectacular edge on competitor Doug Hawkins when it comes to funds in his war chest, having over $85,000 to spend, while Hawkins has less than $15,000. I just wonder when Sen. Clark will start to spend some of his many green dollars to defeat the do-nothing, headline chasing Councilman.

Doug Hawkins - A Reactionary In Heat

Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins is not only a short guy...he's also short on ideas. A closer look reveals no original proposals or legislative priorities, nor any accomplishments during his time in office. Well, unless you count being a reactionary goofball, a camera hog and constantly being on the wrong side of issues to be accomplishments. Hawkins prides himself in being the only "No" vote in a number of instances. This, along with his combative, "go it alone" attitude only shows his inability to make friends, negotiate, and advance his priorities in Metro Hall.

Doug has an agenda. And it probably doesn't include you, unless your name is Jesus. And he wants us to send him to the Kentucky State Senate? I think there are enough egomaniacs there, already. What say ye?