Boots on the ground--shoes and sneakers, too--in the Pennyrile

By BERRY CRAIG

AFT Local 1360

Herb Pritchett and John Coomes know how to put boots on the ground for candidates.

Shoes and sneakers, too. 

The Henderson duo recruited more than 200 volunteers to troop door-to-door Saturday in Henderson and Daviess counties on behalf of a of a quintet of candidates who are state AFL-CIO endorsed.

"The turnout today was fantastic," said Pritchett, Henderson County Democratic chair. "Politics is about people, and everyone who was out here today knows the importance of this election. This enthusiasm should be a good indicator for what to expect on November 6th."

Many of the canvassers packed union cards and were Coomes recruits. He's president of the Henderson-based Tri-County Council of Labor.

The Pennyrile canvassers contacted 1,000 voters, plugging state Sen. Dorsey Ridley (D-Henderson), Democratic state House hopefuls Jim Glenn and Joy Gray, both of Owensboro, Rob Wiederstein of Henderson and Paul Walker of Murray, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the First District.

The Henderson County contingent also boosted Democrat Andrew Powell, who is running for county property valuation administrator. The state AFL-CIO doesn't endorse candidates in local races.

Before heading to their appointed rounds, the volunteers gathered in Henderson for a kickoff speech by Adam Edelen of the New Kentucky Project. A former state auditor, Edelen is said to be mulling a run for governor next year. 

The candidates also spoke. "Paul Walker was unable to be there so I spoke for him," said Pritchett.

Walker was at a union-sponsored "Remember in November" rally in Paducah that attracted about 1,500 people. Click here and here to read about the rally and here to see photos.