A Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Forum and Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18 at The Carson Center in Paducah.  The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event as part of their 2023 Public Policy Series with presenting sponsors Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership and Swift & Staley. 

This is an opportunity for area citizens to hear directly from the candidates about their plans for the Commonwealth as they answer questions submitted by Chamber members.  The questions should be relevant to the business community and are being collected at info@paducahchamber.org. 

Candidates who have committed to attend include Attorney General Daniel Cameron, State Auditor Mike Harmon, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.  Former UN Ambassador Kelly Craft has been invited.

The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Carson Center, 100 Kentucky Avenue, in Paducah. Tickets are $35. Register at paducahchamber.org.

Commonwealth Sponsors include M. Dean Owen, CPA, PSC; and HHO Carbon Clean Systems. Gubernatorial Sponsors are Window World of Paducah; and P&L Railway. Additional sponsorships with reserved seats are still available.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is the first African American elected to a standalone statewide office in the state’s history and the first Republican to hold the office of Attorney General since 1948. Prior to his election, he served as legal counsel to United States Senator Mitch McConnell in Washington, D.C.          

Kentucky State Auditor Mike Harmon is currently serving in his second term, having first been elected to the statewide position in 2015. Prior to his role as Auditor, he served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for 13 years, representing the citizens of Boyle, Casey, and Washington County.

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck was recently elected to his second term. Prior to being elected Mayor, he served as president of Somerset Recycling. He is the founder and principal agent of Keck Sports Management, a baseball agency that represents professional athletes. 

Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles was first elected to that position in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019. From 2010 to 2014, Quarles served as member of the House of Representatives.

Former Ambassador Kelly Craft was the U.S. Representative to the United Nations from September 2019 to January 2021. She also served as the United States Ambassador to Canada from October 2017 until 2019.

The Chamber’s Public Policy Series gives the business community access to legislative leaders, issues and information.