| Senator Boswell to Challenge Congressmen Lewis for 2nd District |
|
|
Senator David Boswell to Challenge Congressmen Ron Lewis for the 2nd District
Owensboro
January 4, 2008
Veteran Kentucky state legislator and behind the scenes power broker, David Boswell announced on January 3rd, that he will seek the office of US Congressmen for the 2nd Congressional District.
Boswell told the West Kentucky Journal of Politics & Issues in a telephone interview that he plans to file his candidacy papers within the next 10 to 14 days. Even though he has not officially entered the race, he stated, “I’m going to run. Make no doubt about my plans.”
Boswell also outlined his goals for West Kentucky. He will stress the need for creating more economic opportunities in the district. Boswell will also offer a plan for developing a new 21st Century Energy vision for the communities in the 2nd District. This will define how this district could become a national center as a major innovator in the creation of new energy jobs from coal and alternative fuels. Boswell also stressed his desire to tackle the health care issue in congress.
Congressmen Ron Lewis is a surprise standard bearer for the Republican Party. His victory in 1994 against Democrat Joe Prather, was one of the major political upsets of that election year. Lewis came upon the West Kentucky regional political scene as someone outside the traditional Republican halls of power. By many in his own party he was considered a maverick. The feeling in Frankfort during this time was that the election would easily go to the Democratic Party to replace the long term Democratic giant William Natcher.
The Democrats lost the 2nd district in what proved to be a turning point nationally, as the Republican Party’s strategy paid off against an over confident Democratic power structure. This election of 1994 proved to be the beginning of what was named the Republican Revolution of the 1990’s. This was the time period that the Republicans took control of Congress.
Lewis’s ability to hang on to the 2nd district seat is due to his pronounced conservatism on most social issues. During the 1990’s much of Western Kentucky moved away from the traditional base of the Democratic Party and embraced the more religious conservatism of the new Republican Party.
Boswell believes that the time is right for the Democrats to take back the 2nd District. He said, “I think the pendulum has swung back in favor of Democrats.” Boswell also believes that the state of the economy and the mishandling of the war will be the two most important issues to voters of West Kentucky.
Boswell added,” the concerns of the voters about the economy and the Iraq war will make the Republicans and Ron Lewis very vulnerable in 2008.”
Boswell is 58. He has served five terms in the Kentucky State Senate.
The 2nd Congressional District contains 20 counties and a portion of southern Jefferson County. The major cities of the district include Owensboro, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Radcliff, Bardstown, Glasgow and parts of Louisville. The district is split north and south by Interstate-65. The area west of I-65 is considered the eastern most boundary for West Kentucky.
Boswell is confident that he will be able to raise the necessary 1 million dollars needed to defeat Ron Lewis.
|
|
Printer-friendly format
|
|
