Bobbie Holsclaw looked to her left and looked to her right. Then she prefaced her remarks by joking, “I’m a rose between two thorns.”

Opponent David Williams seated on her left and Phil Moffett on her right dutifully smiled.

Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw was in Murray Saturday evening to try to persuade GOP party activists that she is the right candidate to take on Governor Steve Beshear in November. Holsclaw, who began her career working for Governor Louie Nunn, then went on to Washington to, in her words, “work at the feet of Ronald Reagan.” She worked two years for Senator Bob Dole before coming back to Kentucky to be around for her first grandchild.

When Jefferson County elected Republican woman Rebecca Jackson county judge, Holsclaw ran for county clerk. It is a position she still holds. She decided to run for governor when she heard that Kentucky is the fourth poorest state in the Union, 4th from the bottom in education and 7th in unfunded pension liabilities. She decided Kentucky deserves better.

Holsclaw criticized the General Assembly for their pension plan. The Legislature needs to repeal what they voted for themselves.” 

Navy Veteran Vermillion – KY little changed during his absence

Holsclaw’s running mate, Bill Vermillion, is a retired navy master chief. Vermillion is a Bracken County native who spent years at Great Lakes Naval Base before returning to Kentucky. He told the crowd that coming home to Kentucky after 30 years, not much had changed. Kentucky education hasn’t made much progress. Vermillion is a strong supporter of charter schools.

He said that Holsclaw is the only candidate in the race that has actually reduced government spending.