Dear future Kentucky governor: These college students have a message for you. Listen up!

With the 2019 Kentucky governor's election just several weeks away, we asked four University of Louisville students to write a message to Kentucky's next governor.

Here's what they had to say.

Heal the rhetorical divide between Democrats and Republicans

Dear next Kentucky governor,  

Kentuckians have become absorbed by our antagonistic perception of the other side. Whether Republican or Democrat, the opposing candidate has become a symbol, not reflective of reality, for all of the things we disagree with. Our partisanship has led us to create imaginations of evil that must be stopped at all costs. 

In Democratic circles, I hear of how Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has destroyed the education system, the pension system, the environment and made our state a slave to Donald Trump. In Republican circles, I hear of how Attorney General Andy Beshear will destroy our traditional values, the state budget, our gun rights, and welcome radical socialists into our state.

In both circles, the need to stop such things from happening is felt as dire. But each sides’ perception of the other is undeniably, at least to rational people, overblown. The next governor, whichever party he may be from, must heal this rhetorical divide. 

The principal task to the state’s chief executive will be to demonstrate, clearly and unequivocally, that the most important political topics in our state are things that impact Kentuckians close to home. The radical divides in the national political conversation can only serve as a distraction from the issues that actually impact our lives.

The next governor must work to repair this deep divide in rhetoric, uniting Kentuckians instead of driving us apart. Perhaps if we can accomplish this within our commonwealth, we can set an example for the nation to follow, and get to work on repairing our irrational hatreds and misconceptions of each other. 

—Will Randolph, University of Louisville McConnell Scholar, Class of 2022 and Campus YMCA Service Director

Fix our education system, help the homeless, use tax money wisely

Dear future governor,

Please do something about teachers not knowing and not being trained on how to deal with minority children with behavioral issues. This plays a big role in the school-to-prison pipeline because a lot of African American children are getting suspended for acting out, and studies have shown that children who are suspended at high rates will most likely be in prison.

Sometimes these children can’t help it, or they are going through different stuff at home. Or they don’t know how to read, and instead of communicating that, they would rather act out. There is also an issue with physical abuse going on in JCPS — teachers putting their hands on children and not being held accountable.

There is also a heartbreaking issue with homelessness. Do not ignore it, and do not continue to follow in the footsteps of people who make it illegal for people who are homeless to sleep on the streets or purposely put those sectioned benches at bus stops or barbed wire at places that people who are homeless are known to sleep. Homeless people are being pushed off the streets like they have somewhere else to go, and that is not the case. Shelters are overcrowded; churches are underfunded. There are plenty of abandoned buildings and/or parking lots that people who are homeless can stay if the city does not want them on the street.

Last, but not least, I think there needs to be something done about budget cuts. These cuts are taking money away from education, healthcare and other important aspects and putting them in unnecessary places instead of places that matter. As governor, you should advocate and make sure that funds are being put in places that will benefit this state and its people and not only its wealthy people.

As I come to an end, I look forward to a new governor who will make ethical decisions no matter how hard they are and no matter who is watching.

—Spechelle Goodwin, University of Louisville second-year student majoring in social work  

Casinos, sports wagering would give Kentucky much-needed revenue 

Regardless of who wins the governor’s race, two key issues come to mind for the future: addressing the increased support for sports wagering and casinos. I hope the next governor is optimistic to the idea, especially with the untapped tax revenue it could bring to our commonwealth.

My second key issue would be continuing this governor's success in creating jobs. Kentucky is benefiting significantly from our lowest unemployment rates.

—Jordan Mcginty, University of Louisville Class of 2022, Young Americans for Liberty -Chapter president 

What will you do about justice reform, marijuana and voter turnout?

Hello, future governor,

I am writing this letter to formally address to you my concerns and hopes for the state of Kentucky. I am curious about what you plan to do as governor to address issues like voting discrimination, mass incarceration and new trends toward consumption of medical and recreational marijuana.

What are your thoughts on allowing citizens convicted of felonies to vote? What can you do as governor to promote high multi-generational voter turnout? What are your thoughts on the bail system?

Recently, there have been conversations about justice reform and decriminalizing/legalizing marijuana.

Where do you see Kentucky in the next five years as this trend progresses? How can you involve young people in the political process?

—Quincy Robinson, University of Louisville student