First joint appearance lacks debate feel, but gubernatorial hopefuls continue public sparring

cn|2 Pure Politics ^ | 6/19/2015 | Kevin Wheatley

[Republican Wildcat]

The first “debate” between Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway and Republican gubernatorial nominee Matt Bevin Friday wasn’t an exchange of ideas, but rather a pair of broad speeches limited to 15 minutes with only Bevin, by virtue of speaking last, given an opportunity at rebuttal.

The two shared the stage for the first time as their parties’ nominees at the Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association/Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association Joint Summer Conference at the Galt House in Louisville. Their pre-lunch remarks drew about 300.

Both Conway and Bevin did their best to present their visions for the state in the allotted time, with the term-limited attorney general touting his record as Kentucky’s chief law enforcement officer while stressing the need for employment opportunities, accessible broadband Internet and early childhood education, among other topics.

Bevin, meanwhile, discussed post-secondary education, public-employee pensions and his record as a job creator.

The forum caused a handful of sparks between the two. Bevin took umbrage at Conway’s suggestion that the Louisville investment manager doesn’t care about early childhood education.

“As has been recorded in debates this spring, this is a big departure between me and my opponent,” Conway said. “Folks, I know from science that a child’s brain is wiring itself for lifelong learning at the tenderest of ages. The science shows us that 90 percent of brain function is wired by the age of 5.”

Bevin, in his remarks, countered that Conway’s claims were “absolute bunk” and “bologna.”

“I have nine children,” he said. “You think I’m not caring about early childhood education and childhood education at every turn? You bet I am, but it’s a function and the comment that I’ve always made: how are we allocating the dollars? Not only at the front end, but also at the post-secondary end as well.”