New gubernatorial candidate touts 'BS detector'

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Following a primary defeat in this year's congressional elections, Democrat Geoff Young says he will run for the governor's office in 2015 — and bring his "BS detector."

Young, a retired engineer and employee of what is now the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence, announced Monday that he will kick off his campaign from the state capitol on Tuesday.

He pledged in a press release to defend the economic well-being and personal liberties of Kentuckians. Young, who lives in Lexington, also announced that Cherokee Schill, of Nicholasville, will join him on the ticket, running for lieutenant governor.

"We refuse to waste your precious time and attention on trivial non-issues, nasty attack ads or politician-speak," he said. "We both have highly developed BS detectors, and we will fearlessly use them against any politician who tries to deceive the people of Kentucky."

Young sought the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Andy Barr this year in the 6th District. He was defeated by Elisabeth Jensen in the primary, 61 percent to 39 percent.

Young said both Jensen and Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes lost in the general election because of bad advice from campaign managers and advisers.

"Cherokee Schill and I will never hire people to speak for us and will never buy public opinion polls to tell us what to say," he said. "We will give you the unvarnished truth directly, as best we understand it."

So far, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is the only other Democrat seeking the governor's office next year. State Rep. Sannie Overly, of Paris, is his running mate.

Reporter Mike Wynn can be reached at (502) 875-5136. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeWynn_CJ.