By Ashley Sidebottom, staff writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University hosted her third in a series of gubernatorial candidate forums with Democratic candidate for governor Bruce Lunsford speaking about his “Blueprint for Change” for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Lunsford's “Blueprint” provides a plan for implementing universal health care for all Kentuckians, improving education and creating high-paying Kentucky jobs.

“I'm not a politician. I'm someone who makes things happen. We have a specific plan to get things moving in Kentucky so people can get ahead, and I have the real world experience to get it done,” Lunsford said.

“I'm better at doing things than talking about them,” and said that's what he intends to do as Kentucky's future governor.

Lunsford said he sees “a need for an outsider with a fresh vision” for the future of Kentucky.

One way of garnering public support is through barbeques that are being held across the Commonwealth and offers a place for the public to ask questions and hear about what the Lunsford-Stumbo “Campaign for Change” is all about.

Lunsford's number one goal is tackling the health care problem in Kentucky.

The 500,000 uninsured people in Kentucky “are the sickest because they only go to the doctor when they have to, and they are the most costly on the system,” Lunsford said. “It is simply immoral that everybody is not being taken care of.”

He also said “there is no reason why we can't create a (state-wide) free clinic that works,” and that would also benefit the growing health care costs for Kentuckians.

Another important goal is to establish pre-kindergarten education for all of Kentucky's children because it provides social and educational skills necessary to be a successful member of society, and is the “most efficient education funding.”

“The kids who need education the most simply aren't getting it,” Lunsford said.

Lunsford said, “The government needs to recognize its responsibility to take care of everyone in the state,” both young and old.

Another problem, Lunsford said, is that the “private sector doesn't participate anymore,” because the government tends to “favor the strong and mistreat the weak,” but said the private sector and small local businesses have the potential to strengthen our government and the success of Kentucky.

“I am a believer in the entrepreneurial spirit and we need to encourage small businesses to become big businesses because they will give back,” Lunsford said.

He said there is “a lot to be done,” and it has to be done quickly and done right.

Lunsford wants to develop a 20-year plan for Kentucky that includes development in the areas of infrastructure, technology, education and health care.

We have to “dream big and aim high,” Lunsford said.

As for the issue of gaming, Lunsford said, “citizens should get the right to vote on it, but we have to have a different plan if it doesn't pass.”

If gaming does pass, Lunsford said it should be “highly restricted to protect people,” and that money should be used to treat and control gambling and other addictions across Kentucky.

Lunsford voiced his support for the Heartland Parkway, and said it is an important investment for central Kentucky.

“I will not raise taxes. I believe in tax cuts to stimulate the economy,” Lunsford said, “but I see the cigarette tax as a user fee,” but when put next to the national average, Kentucky's 30-cent tax isn't as hard to swallow as the national average of around $1, especially since “everyone knows that cigarettes are bad for them,” yet they still choose to use them.

Lunsford said the current bipartisan bickering in the state legislature should be dealt with.

“We need a governor who is involved, not AWOL,” Lunsford said. “If you give (the legislature) a plan and a vision and a chance to be involved, they can be successful.”

Other topics of discussion at the forum included the state budget, plans for the environment, meth labs and protection for social workers.

“I will be very involved in the budget,” Lunsford said. “Tennessee has done some really good things” with environmental legislation, and he hopes Kentucky can build from what they have done.

Lunsford wants to add more funding to the state drug taskforces to deal with the problem of methamphetamines “in a hurry.”

Lunsford said the new Boni Bill that provides safety for social workers is “important” and hopes the program is “adequately funded” to make a difference.

State Senator and former governor Julian Carroll endorsed Lunsford on March 29, stating Lunsford “will provide the essential leadership that Kentucky needs,” and, as a millionaire, is “the only candidate who can afford to take on a Republican in the general election.”

Lunsford, 59, grew up on a northern Kentucky farm in Kenton County, worked his way through school and spent five years in the United States Army Reserves.

Lunsford received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and went on to the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University to obtain his law degree after becoming a Certified Public Accountant.

He served as Commerce Secretary for Governor John Y. Brown in the early 1980s, and helped bring such companies as Toyota, UPS and Delta Air Lines to Kentucky.

Following his term as Commerce Secretary, Lunsford built a successful health care company that provided long term care services to seniors and created thousands of good Kentucky jobs. That company today is known as

In 2004, Lunsford was inducted into the Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame.

Attorney General Greg Stumbo, candidate for Lt. Governor, said, “Bruce Lunsford is the type of guy who thinks big and delivers. He can take on a problem and solve it. He has the integrity, the experience and the leadership to put Kentucky back on the right track. We'll get the job done.”

For more information about Bruce Lunsford, Greg Stumbo or their campaign, visit their website at http://www.LunsfordStumbo2007.com.

Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs at CU, welcomed everyone to the forum, and the Rev. Jason Castenir, senior pastor at Living Grace Church in Campbellsville, provided the invocation for the event. John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations at CU and executive assistant to the president, introduced Lunsford.

The sessions are sponsored by CU's Kentucky Heartland Institute for Public Policy (KHIPP) and Team Taylor County.

Chowning, who is the founder of KHIPP, said all of the major candidates have been asked to participate in the forums.

Each gubernatorial forum is open to the public.

Chowning said each of the candidates will also be featured on his TV-4 television show, “Dialogue on Public Issues” which is shown on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Announcements will be made on each candidate forum during the series.

“We invite everyone to come hear these candidates and to watch the show on our TV-4,” said Chowning.

For more information on the events, contact Chowning at (270) 789-5520 or at jechowning@campbellsville.edu.

Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master's colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.