HERE IN KENTUCKY.....THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
The Case Against, Froelicher, Pavese, Massey, and Moser: A Closing Argument
Here in Kentucky we are in the midst of a primary race which is pitting three popular Trumpesque, firmly solid Constitutional Conservatives two of whom are incumbents, against what can only be described as the YUGE money, status quo RINO faction.
The RINO faction is supported by all the usual suspects, a left leaning teacher's union from Louisville opposed to school choice; the Kentucky Hospital Association and its hospital CEO cronies from across the state trying to prevent the end of the anti-competitive, anti-medical freedom Certificate of Need; the CEO of Churchill Downs; a deep pocketed pac with a history of supporting democrats; and another shadowy pac, the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition which would dearly love to return Ed Massey to office: and finally, Better Schools Kentucky the political wing of the radical left Jefferson County Teachers Association.
The RINO faction has focused its attention on three key races in Northern Kentucky as well as several others across the state. With a war chest of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the RINO faction is supporting three lackluster puppets. One of them is a former city councilman, Duane Froelicher who ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Florence, KY. Perhaps he may have had better success in that race if he had not lied about his opponents voting record on a proposition that never came to a vote on a position that she clearly did not hold.
Then there are Christopher Pavese, who refused to respond to questions of where he stands on critical issues and C. Ed Massey the deposed House District 66 Representative who is trying to regain your vote through an endless series of personal attacks on TJ Roberts, his opponent.
For good measure, Kim Moser, the chairperson of the powerful House Health Services Committee who is being financially supported by virtually anyone from anywhere except her own District.
“In a 2022 interview with Spectrum 1 News Mr. Froelicher had this to offer about his opponent, Dr. Julie Metzger Aubuchon, the current Florence Mayor:
‘My opponent voted to demolish our swimming pool. In the future, we want to expand the pool, and make sure that’s a viable option for all citizens of the city of Florence.’
That is quite the assertion and it is totally false. It is, in fact, a demonstrable lie. Mayor Aubuchon clearly explained her record on the pool issue in the Spectrum article and the Editor of Spectrum 1 News added a note stating that a post publication review of the facts did not support Mr. Froelicher’s assertion. When asked to offer clarification or explanation of his allegation Mr. Froelicher offered none. At a minimum an apology to Mayor Aubuchon was and remains, in order.”
Nevertheless, Froelicher is being financially supported by the ever-present Garren Colvin, President and CEO St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Froelicher has also gained the support of the Kentucky Chamber Advocacy Committee (KCAC) which paid for a recent content free mailer. The KCAC is the political component of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
In another mailer, Froelicher accuses Steve Rawlings his opponent of using “…dark money from out of state special interests groups.” How did you discover this Mr. Froelicher? The same way that you discovered that Mayor Aubuchon cast a mythical vote on a fictional Florence City Council proposition? It certainly wasn’t from here.
In yet another mailer, Mr. Froelicher included a “sample ballet” on which he has “cleverly” eliminated his opponent’s name leaving us only with a notation that Mr. Froelicher is “#2 on your Ballot”. Seriously? We’re all adults Mr. Froelicher. We know that you have an opponent and that his name is Steve Rawlings, an honest man.
It matters little to me what Mr. Froelicher contends or what he has accomplished personally, professionally or politically. What does matter is that in politics he is dishonest when it comes to his opponents and because of that Mr. Froelicher has disqualified himself as a serious candidate. To those organizations who have backed Mr. Froelicher, I offer this: Next time pick an honest man or woman to support.
Christopher Pavese
I have written about Mr. Pavese twice (here and here) . I hope that this is the last time that I write about him. With 4 days to go before the primary Mr. Pavese has still failed to tell us where he stands on any issue about which Constitutional Conservatives are concerned. In fact, Pavese has skillfully avoided telling voters anything of value and substance —- Platitudes R’US would be a good campaign slogan for Mr. Pavese. For example, asserting in mailers and on TV that Mr. Pavese “stands with Donald Trump” is a content free assertion. But despite the vacuous nature of his campaign he is the recipient of huge sums of money from a host of of special interests — particularly executives of the Northern Kentucky healthcare behemoth, St. Elizabeth Healthcare and allied special interests:
“Of the $42,270.00 that Mr. Pavese had on hand on March 16, 2024, $12,020 came from the following individuals and organizations:
Gary Moore, Judge Executive, Boone County $200.00
The Kentucky Assoc. of Healthcare Facilities $1,000.00
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce $2,100.00
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce $1,500.00
Garren Colvin, Pres/CEO St. Elizabeth Healthcare $2,100.00
Susan Colvin, wife of Garren Colvin. $2,000.00
Julie McGregor, SVP Human Resources, St. Elizabeth HC. $250.00
Sarah Giolando SVP/Chief Strategy Officer, St. Elizabeth HC. $1,000.00
Anonymous $1,770.00
A mailer paid for by Kentuckians for Patient Access, a pac that supports continuation of the Certificate of Need $Unknown
This $12,020.00 ++ represents more than 28% of Mr. Pavese’s campaign contributions between January 1, 2024 and April 20, 2024. It should be noted that the total contributions to Mr. Pavese’s campaign include an $11,000.00 loan to himself. With more than $33,000.00 of Mr. Pavese’s war chest of $42,270.00 coming from special interests very little is coming from the people he seeks to represent.
We know know that Mr. Pavese has also accepted the help of the radical left Jefferson County Teachers Association which through its political arm, Better Schools Kentucky has contributed $50,000 to seeing that Mr. Pavese defeats Marianne Proctor who is a staunch advocate of school choice, opposed to transgender women participating in women’s sports or using woman’s bathrooms and locker facilities and she is opposed to DEI programs in the State’s universities and colleges.
How does a person who call’s himself a “Conservative champion for Boone County” and asserts that he will provide us with “real Conservative results” possibly accept $50,000 from an organization in Jefferson County that supports the end to school vouchers and school choice, transgender activism in our schools, and the implementation DEI ideology in our universities and colleges?
Clearly, Mr. Pavese has placed himself in the stable of healthcare and the radical left teachers union in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He is the Commonwealth’s health care industry candidate because Marianne Proctor poses a threat to the Certificate of Need and they just can’t tolerate that. Marianne Proctor is their enemy and she must be defeated at all cost and by any means necessary including two mailers attacking her position on the so-called “Melanies Law” which allows families victimized by a drunk driver to sue for child support in the event that one or both parents are killed or permanently injured by a impaired driver.
Mr. Pavese is no conservative.
It is worth noting — again — that both Mr. Froelicher and Mr. Pavese avoid public scrutiny by refusing, at the last minute to attend the candidate forum held by the Commonwealth Policy Center on April 30, 2024.
C. Ed Massey
I have written about C. Ed Massey and there is most certainly nothing about him which would recommend him to hold an elected position in the State Legislature. Apart from his firm reliance on money from the healthcare industry and the radical Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA), Mr. Massey has shown himself to shrug accountability for anything including donations from the JCTA and he apparently believes that attempting to belittle his opponent is a winning strategy.
Kim Moser
Representative Moser is the ham fisted chair of the Health Services Committee in the State House of Representatives who has blocked legislation that would reform or eliminated the Certificate of Need in Kentucky which would allow competition in Kentucky’s healthcare arena. Ms. Moser has also called those who are opposed to Transgenderism in out schools, “neanderthals”. Residents in Moser’s District have a far better option in Karen Campbell.
The Closing Argument
Froelicher, Pavese, Massey, and Moser are not Conservatives simply because they say they are AND because have taken money from non-conservative and left leaning organizations and they have been dishonest in their campaigns.
That candidates, Froelicher and Pavese, who are asking for your vote would refuse to stand before you and answer questions about issues of great interest to all Boone County Republicans is shameful and speaks to their character.
I know this for a fact. None of those people, Froelicher, Pavese, Massey or Moser have my best interest at heart and I am willing to bet that they don’t care about your best interest either.
Froelicher, Pavese, and are solid NO’s on my ballot. Were I able to vote in the Massey or Moser contests they would be equally solid NO’s.
Union, Kentucky
17 May 2024