Farmer vs. Brown

Snippets from the Lexington Herald Leader ...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/14521010.htm

Posted on Sun, May. 07, 2006
ELECTION '06
Subplots enliven quiet race
Brown vs. the 'other' Farmer in 88th District
By Ryan Alessi
HERALD-LEADER POLITICAL WRITER

[...]

But a couple of interesting subplots have emerged beneath the quiet surface of the Republican primary in the 88th state House district in southeastern Fayette County.

Former Urban County Councilman Fred V. Brown surprised some Republicans by deciding this winter to challenge two-term incumbent, Rep. William "Bill" P. Farmer. That's created a rare primary race for state representative in which both candidates have government experience and records.

[...]

Farmer -- the state representative, who also runs a tax preparation service -- said when he's campaigned door-to-door several voters have commented that they just saw a TV commercial for him.

[...]

Brown, who is running radio ads, said he's not concerned about the double-exposure of the name of his opponent.

He said he's well-known anyway because he served on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for 10 years.

[...]

While Brown has touted his work on city transportation and budget issues during this campaign, at least one of his former colleagues criticized his performance.

"I just don't know what Fred Brown ever accomplished on council. He was on the budget committee for years and gave us horrible budgets," said Vice Mayor Mike Scanlon, a registered Republican who lives in the 88th House district.

[...]

Farmer's biggest role this session was serving as a key broker on a proposal to lessen an increased tax burden on small businesses caused by a tax change plan that passed last year.

[...]

The winner of the May 16 Republican primary will face Democrat Christopher Frost, a law professor at the University of Kentucky. Frost said he couldn't predict who would be the GOP nominee, but added that he believes the race could divide Republican voters.

[...]

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From my exposure to Rep. Bill Farmer, I think he's done a decent job. Yet, I'm not sure where his door-to-door campaigning is, since he hasn't come knocking at my door in the 88th district. Fred Brown did. I'm not 100% committed to Farmer, but I'm leaning that way.