Flood wins after five candidates in Democratic stronghold tout their ‘progressive’ credentials at forum

75th LD nominee Kelly Flood (D-Lexington): Politicker photo

LEXINGTON -- By the accounts from those on stage during Wednesday's forum for Democratic hopefuls, the 75th state House district is a rarity in the Commonwealth.

The 75th is undoubtedly a Democratic stronghold. The current incumbent from the Lexington district, Rep. Kathy Stein, has faced Republican opposition just once since being elected in 1996, and she topped that rival by 31 points.

However, with the district referred to during the evening forum as the home of the state's "progressive vanguard" as well as the "conscience of the House," the 75th's political uniqueness appears to go beyond mere party loyalty.

"While it is an honor to serve as a state representative from anywhere, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be the representative from the 75th district of Kentucky," said Kelly Flood, a former minister and one of the five candidates standing for the opportunity to replace Stein as the district's Democratic nominee.

"It's not a district where powerful people in Frankfort can dictate our choices," Flood added. "You don't want just another politician. You want someone who will stand up."

Flood ultimately won a preference vote for which precinct committee members from across the district selected their favored candidate, after each made remarks and participated in a question and answer session with the 150 in attendance.

Flood, in particular, drew loud applause from those at the forum, though each of the candidates garnered a relatively warm reaction for their near universal defenses of abortion rights, gay and lesbian rights, and government arts funding - among other things - during the event.

"I don't support, nor will I ever support, using any group of people as a political punching bag," said lawyer Alison Lundergan Grimes, in calling for the repeal of the state's constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.

Each of the candidates also indicated they voted against that ban when it was on Kentucky's ballots in 2004.

Grimes - the daughter of former Kentucky Democratic Party chair, Jerry Lundergan - and Flood were joined on the stage at the University of Kentucky's Memorial Hall by three fellow candidates: lawyer Foster Ockerman, Jr., social worker Mike Finucane, and media consultant Lamin Swann.

The group fielded questions during an extensive question and answer session that touched on issues including illegal immigration, the arts, alcohol taxes, mountaintop removal coal-mining, and abortion.

"In the end, that's what makes women free, that they get to decide what they get to do with their bodies," said Finucane. "If you are committed to freedom, you are committed to women's reproductive rights."

The candidates were typically in agreement on most issues, so attempts at distinguishing themselves from the pack were mostly focused on other concerns.

Ockerman continually asserted that he had more "name recognition" in the district, given his decades-long history as a practicing attorney in the area. Grimes, meanwhile, frequently referenced Stein as a like-minded politician and Swann discussed how he could be part of a "paradigm" shift in government while talking up alternative transportation as an important issue.

Finucane characterized himself as a "frontline human rights worker" given his work as the director of the Family Violence Project, an organization that aids victims of domestic abuse.

Flood, however, was the winner of the preference vote. She spoke of her own work as an activist, referencing her role in organizing a demonstration in favor of abortion rights, while also elaborating on how should would tactically maneuver if elected to the state House.

"One of the key things I would do is become a master of rules," said Flood. "I worked for a state legislator, and he passed legislation in his first year because he knew what he was doing."

Flood's win in the preference vote means she will officially clinch the Democratic nomination, given the decision of a two-person Democratic executive committee.

Party rules dictate that Fayette County Democratic Party chair David O'Neill and 75th LD Democratic chair Jennifer Miller - said executive committee - were tasked with coming up with a method of selection, and they chose to honor the post-forum preference vote.

Fifty-eight precinct of committee members participated in the vote, according to O'Neill. Official totals were not released, but O'Neill said Flood won a "majority" of the votes to replace Stein on the ballot.

Stein's district is open after she decided she would not seek re-election to the state House and instead pursue the open 13th state Senate seat. That seat is available after incumbent state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone announced he would seek a circuit court judgeship.

Stein did not endorse one of the five candidates standing for the 75th Democratic nod, but she said she welcomed Flood into the political fold.

"I am tickled that Kelly Flood won," said Stein. "I know she has the courage to stand up and be fierce when she needs to."

Stein asaid she would "collaborate" with Flood for their election efforts and - she hoped - in the state legislature.

"I think that she and I will do a wonderful combined effort in both the Senate and the House," said Stein.

It would not be the first collaboration for the two, however, as Stein noted she had appeared in a production of the play "The Vagina Monologues" with Flood several years ago.

"She has been a friend and more importantly now she is going to serve as a mentor and she and I will be collaborators - wonderful collaborators for progressive value," said Flood, after her victory.

Flood's nomination will be formalized tomorrow in filings with the Secretary of State's office.

At this time, no Republican opposition has been announced for Flood in the 75th district. Stein will face Lexington-Fayette County City Councilmember Chuck Ellinger in her Senate race.