Alan Keck: In governor’s race, Somerset mayor puts ‘focus on Kentucky,’ not national issues

Tessa Duvall

May 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM·6 min read

The Herald-Leader is profiling the major candidates for the GOP nomination for Kentucky governor. Read the other profiles at Kentucky.com in coming days.

In a crowded field of Republicans running for Kentucky governor, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck isn’t afraid to stake out policies and positions that are different from his 11 challengers.

Keck keeps his campaign focused on Kentucky issues, opting to talk less about culture war issues and “wokeness” and more about his vision for the commonwealth.

“I’m going to talk about the things that I know without a shadow of a doubt the governor can do,” Keck told the Herald-Leader. “So often, we take these local and state races and make them national; Kentucky need somebody who’s gonna focus on Kentucky, and that’s what we’re doing.”

As a mayor of a roughly 12,000-person city in southeast Kentucky, Keck doesn’t have the same name recognition of some of his opponents who hold statewide office or have millions to spend on advertising. Recent independent polls out Keck’s support among likely primary voters at 0.6 to 2%, and campaign finance reports show he’s raised just over $325,000.

And yet, Keck believes his campaign has the potential to “surprise some folks.”

“I knew this was an uphill battle. I knew there was going to be somebody (to) spend $10-plus million, guys that have been statewide for a long, long time,” Keck said. “We launched with a game plan because the issues that we started talking about November, now everybody’s talking about. You’re going to hear answers about public safety. You’re going to hear answers about workforce development. ... These are things that will move Kentucky forward, whether I’m the one that gets implemented or not.”

Here’s the complete list of candidates running for Kentucky governor in 2023

Keck on the issues

Economy: Keck says growing the economy and addressing the “workforce crisis” is one of his campaign’s pillars. “I think we have a policy that’s unique in this race — sliding scale benefit reform — where we take care of the working poor instead of those unwilling to work,” Keck said. “I’m convinced it’ll transform our economy or put more people back to work and it’s gonna put more money in the hands of working Kentuckians.” Keck supports eliminating the state income tax and promoting Kentucky as a tourism destination.
Public safety: Speaking to the Herald-Leader days after a mass shooting left six people dead in Nashville — and before the Old National Bank and Chickasaw Park shootings in Louisville — Keck rolled out a plan to beef up school safety, including increasing school resource officers, active shooter training and facility upgrades. He also supports pay raises and better equipment for police, investing in overcrowded county jails and incentive to encourage bring mental health care providers to Kentucky.
Education: Keck supports school choice, but also describes himself as a “big proponent of public schools” and a supporter of early childhood education. “We know that the data supports investment in kids ages 3-to-5 and how it produces better life outcomes,” he said. “That might not be sexy political policy, but it is something that can help curb our generational challenges, generational poverty and struggle.”
Abortion: Keck supports exceptions to the current abortion ban for rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities. He said there must be a defined time period in which the abortion could be performed, but the law should made a consideration for the woman. He describes his stance as a “pro-family policy” and he hopes more “Republicans will take note that the conversation of life can’t end at birth, that as Republicans we can support good stewardship and governance, and help families get off on the right track.” This includes supporting parental leave, eliminating taxes on needs for young families like diapers and wipes, and “leading the conversation on the childcare crisis.” He also spoke of the need to support the overburdened foster care and adoption systems.
LGBTQ legislation: Keck says he opposes minors being able to “make life-altering decisions about towards their gender.” In regards to Senate Bill 150 — the bill passed by the 2023 General Assembly that banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth — Keck said, “we need to press pause a little bit and wait until these young people are older to make a decision that will affect them for 60, 70, 80 years perhaps.”

Who is supporting Keck’s bid?

Keck is being backed by an unauthorized campaign committee, Bluegrass Conservatives PAC, which filed with KREF after a recent deadline, so it’s not yet known how much the organization has raised or spent.

The vast majority of individual donations made to Keck’s campaign — more than 81% — were made from within Kentucky, including 144 listing Somerset addresses.

Keck said “countless mayors” have offered their support of his campaign, but he doesn’t “want to put them in a bad spot” by naming them.

“So many folks — this is insane to me — but they’re worried about political retribution,” Keck said. “And you know, that’s a real thing in society, either from the existing governor, or one of the others in the primary, should they win. What I’ve told them: ‘I’m not going to put you in a spot where you can hurt yourself or your community by going public.’”

Kentucky is electing more than just governor in 2023. Meet the down-ballot candidates

What Keck’s opponents are saying:

While apparent front runners Kelly Craft and Daniel Cameron — and PACs supporting them — have been bashing each other for weeks, most of Keck’s opponents haven’t had much to say about him. Keck has tried to use this to his advantage in his first television ad, positioning himself as above the infighting for voters who are tired of the “same ol’ politics.”

However, Eric Deters, a bombastic former attorney in Northern Kentucky who is largely self-funding his gubernatorial campaign, has released a video about Keck. Deters has hurled insults at many of his opponents, and has called Keck a “phony” whose education policies are too closely aligned with that of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

Why Keck says he is best to take on Beshear:

“Kentuckians really appreciate radical transparency and authenticity,” he said. “They’re ready for somebody who’s not just another politician.”

Keck also believes his executive experience, both as a mayor and in business, will serve him well in contrast to Beshear, who was a lawyer and the attorney general before becoming governor.

Finally, Keck said he has a unique “long-term vision” in his “Keck Game Plan” for moving Kentucky into the future.

Keck quick facts:

Name: Alan Keck

Age: 38

City of residence: Somerset

Previous political/public experience: Mayor of Somerset

Professional experience: President of Somerset Recycling, Founder and principal agent of Keck Sports Management

Learn more: www.keckforkentucky.com; @KeckforKY on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Quote: “I just want that sense of pride and community that I feel in my hometown — that I feel across the state — to be matched with results. We have to have an honest conversation about where we are and then about the type of leader who can bring that out of us. ... Kentucky needs a change agent, somebody who can bring people together and simply get things done, and I believe I’m that guy.”