 Teachers, retired teachers at Dem Dinner in group pic (Murray KY) - Close to 300 came to the Curris Center on the Murray State University for the annual Jefferson Jackson Day Democratic Dinner on Friday, June 15th. The event sponsored by the Calloway County Democratic Party hosted Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes as keynote speaker.
Before the speeches started, teachers and retired teachers gathered for a group photo to "send a message to Frankfort."
Secretary Grimes, shown at right with husband Steven, called the Democratic gathering a "family reunion."
Grimes then launched into a condemnation of the recent bar of the Poor People's C ampaign from gathering in the Capitol. Participants were allowed to enter the Capitol two by two.
"Our Capitol Building has literally become Noah's ark. Our Governor is not Noah and his boat is about to sink."
Grimes said that Republicans are not working to make America great again, the slogan President Trump continues to use to rally his base. Instead, she said "they are working against everything that makes America great."
Grimes cited the example of Governor Wallace Wilkinson who raised revenue by championing the Kentucky lottery. Grimes supports growing medical marijuana which she says should be legalized in Kentucky.
She asked the candidates for legislative seats to rise and be recognized. Of the six attending, five were women.
"Women are the gale force wind behind the blue wave in November." Grimes told the crowd.
Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins drove the length of the Commonwealth to attend the dinner. Earlier in the day, he spoke at graduation at the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center in Thelma in Johnson County Kentucky. https://www.paintsvilleherald.com/news/carl-d-perkins-vocational-training-center-celebrates-graduates/article_ab7c0064-70e1-11e8-be18-5392f71c5c8c.html
 At left, Rep. Rocky Adkins visits with old friends Linda and Neel Carroll.
Adkins said that he was traveling the state and was "seeing more energy than I've ever seen in my thirty one year career." He said he is seeing people who have never watched the process become involved.
Local Democratic candidates also spoke to the crowd.
Democratic nominee for the First District Congressional House seat currently held by incumbent James Comer, Paul Walker is a hometown candidate for Calloway County. Dr. Walker is a Murray State professor. He spoke of working with students and said "young people know they have been left behind." Walker pledged to work on student debt issues. http://www.votepaulwalker.com/
Walker said there is a national right to work bill pending before the Republican Congress. Comer is expected to support the bill when it comes up.
According to Walker, his opponent has done nothing to help his constituents.
David Ramey served both as host of the evening as chair of the Calloway County Democratic Party and as a candidate. Ramey is running for Kentucky House District 5 seat currently held by Republican Kenny Imes. Ramey warned that next year's dinner may not be at the Curris Center. Murray State will start outsourcing food services.
http://www.rameyforkyhouse.com/
At the base of each message was the beat of Vote, Vote, Vote. |
