Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Beshear/Abramson Win By Wide Margin

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Democrat Steve Beshear defeated Republican David Williams and Independent Gatewood Galbraith Tuesday to win another four-year term as Kentucky's governor. The inauguration for Beshear and Abramson will be December 13th. Abramson will become the first top-ranking Jewish politician to hold a statewide office in Kentucky's history.

At a celebration in Frankfort's Civic Center with his running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Beshear said in this election he asked the voters to send a strong message — a message of rejecting the politics of obstruction, the politics of division and the politics of religious intolerance. Beshear, who made few campaign promises in 2011, promised a "lean and efficient" government in the next four years. Williams, who was at Lexington's Marriott Griffin Gate with his running mate, state Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, said he and Beshear would meet after a few days of rest to try to find common ground. Williams said, "I feel I'm a better man because of this experience and I want to work with all the folks who are willing to work with us to make sure we have a better Kentucky." Williams said he told Senate Republicans that they "were getting a new and improved David Williams." Williams plans to complete his current term as Senate president, which runs through January 2013.