Louisville Democratic state Reps. Attica Scott and Charles Booker don’t buy a statement from Daniel Cameron’s campaign that a lawsuit to get him off the ballot is really about “an old white career politician” scheming to “cheat a young qualified black attorney out of a fair election.”
Cameron is a Louisville Republican. He’s battling Prestonsburg Democrat Greg Stumbo for attorney general.
Scott and Booker, also African Americans, are backing Stumbo and the rest of their party’s ticket. The two Falls City lawmakers were in Paducah Saturday afternoon for a “Stand Up, Speak Out” program at the city’s Washington Street Baptist Church.
Booker said the contest for attorney general “has to come down to who has the experience to do the job. … Everything else to me is a distraction and we can’t afford that.” He wants voters to “look at the record of the candidates, to listen to what they are offering to them.”
Scott agreed with Booker that Cameron lacks the experience to be attorney general. “It’s a valid lawsuit that’s being brought by someone who is African American,” she said. “So Mr. Cameron’s accusations are unfounded.”
Added Scott: “Just because someone is a woman doesn’t mean that they believe in women’s rights. Just because someone is African American doesn’t mean that they believe that African Americans should have their own voice and power.”
Plaintiff Joseph Jackson, also from the Falls City, filed the suit in Jefferson Circuit Court Sept. 17. He says Cameron should be disqualified because he lacks the constitutionally-required eight years experience as a “practicing attorney.”
A full hearing is set for Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Jackson denies GOP charges that Stumbo and the Democrats put him up to suing.
Sponsored by the McCracken County Democratic Party, the “Stand Up, Speak Out” program was aimed at boosting local Democratic ardor for the November 5 election. County chair Jennifer Smith urged everybody to vote the straight party ticket, volunteer for the candidates, and encourage unregistered voters to sign up before the deadline, which is also Oct. 7.
In a statement, Stumbo, a veteran lawmaker, former House Speaker and attorney general, said “Cameron’s attempt to make this campaign about race is disappointing and unfortunate. This campaign has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with experience in the courts.”
Smith guaranteed “that the Republican party up in Frankfort is not on your side. They’re not worried about taking care of you. They’re worried about taking care of the likes of Mitch McConnell.”
As part of the program, Scott and Booker joined local lawyer and unsuccessful 2018 Democratic House candidate Abigail Barnes in a panel discussion which mainly centered on voting rights and returning the franchise to most convicted felons. Two voter restoration bills—one co-sponsored by Booker—failed in the last legislative session.
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