William Woods
District/Office:
Political party:
Republican
Campaign website:
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Question 1:
What’s your vision for Kentucky? How will our commonwealth be better in four years if you’re elected?
On day one, we will enforce within the Governor's Office a self-imposed rule of 100% Transparency.
During our term, we will return the power of state government back to the people who truly are the backbone of the Commonwealth - the citizens.
After our term, the Commonwealth will benefit from our ability to bring ALL citizens and political groups together for our mutual benefit.
Too many times, divisive political positioning puts Kentuckians at a disadvantage. That will not be the case with our administration.
Question 2:
If you are elected Governor, what steps will you take to encourage transparency, media access and meaningful public participation in decisions made by state government?
I will be my own spokesperson.
I will not have a media consultant.
I will NEVER turn citizens or the media away.
The Governor of the Commonwealth MUST respect the right of the citizens and a free press to ask the questions that others refuse to ask.
As Governor, it will be my responsibility to set an example for the other members of state government.
I will lead by example - not hide behind an office door.
Question 3:
Do you believe that we have an obligation and opportunity to act on climate change? What actions would you take to ensure that solutions, such as clean energy jobs and reducing high energy bills, benefit all Kentuckians, including low-income communities, communities of color, and those who are most impacted by the changing climate?
I do believe in climate change.
Science and common sense tell me that humans are the cause.
As the cause, we have the responsibility and obligation to offset our footprint.
At a state level, being the individual in charge of the budget, I will enforce regulations to be set in place on day one of my administration.
A few of them:
Reduction in purchase and use of large SUVs and Full Size trucks for state agencies unless it is a job-specific requirement.
Reduction in Executive-Level state travel unless it is a job-specific necessity.
Reduction in the amount of paper mail sent by the state agencies of Kentucky
Question 4:
Do you support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to tens of thousands of Kentuckians with felonies in their past who have completed their full sentence? If the state legislature remains locked on this issue, would you use executive power to restore voting rights to all Kentuckians with felonies in their past who are currently restricted from voting? Please explain.
If by the time I am sworn in, the Legislature has failed to restore the rights of felons in the Commonwealth, I will use Executive Power to do it myself.
It is my belief that NO individual, regardless of their incarceration or conviction, should have their basic fundamental right to choose their representatives removed.
The act of restricting voter rights, in my view, is an overreach and perversion of the power of government.
Question 5:
Will you protect or even expand access to Medicaid for the nearly 400,000 low-income Kentuckians who qualified for health care – including vision, dental and mental health – for the first time under the Affordable Care Act? What is your view of the current administration’s efforts to limit access to Medicaid, including new co-pay requirements, restrictions on vision and dental coverage and work requirements?
I will NEVER support a work requirement.
I will NEVER support cutting healthcare for anyone who can't afford it.
No, I don't believe healthcare should be free, however we must recognize the only way to have a prosperous Commonwealth is to have a HEALTHY Commonwealth.
The absolute hypocrisy of my party surrounding this issue is embarrassing.
We raise millions to support Right to Life, but when it comes time to protect those already living, my fellow republicans are silent.
I am not, nor will I ever be one of those Republicans!
If we fail to lead with compassion, are we really leading?
Question 6:
What is the Governor’s role in opposing white supremacy, addressing racial inequality and supporting racial justice for black people, Latinx people, immigrants, those who are undocumented, and all people of color in Kentucky? Please identify at least two policy initiatives you would propose as Governor to address racial and systemic inequalities.
The Governor is the soul individual in the Commonwealth responsible for equality. The Governor, at all times, should present a demeanor that shows acceptance, understanding and the willingness to listen.
Unlike our current Governor and my other opponent, I will NOT speak dismissively to citizens.
I will not speak to women as if they fail to understand how to make their own medical choices.
Most important, I WILL respect ALL Kentuckians.
The Governor is the elected LEADER of All Citizens.
I will NEVER see an individual as different or less than because they have a different skin color, sexual orientation, or citizen status.
The time to talk about equality is passed - we must now elect LEADERS that will actually FIGHT FOR IT.
Question 7:
Kentucky has a tax code that does not raise enough revenue to meet the Commonwealth’s budgetary needs. After years of budget cuts, public education, infrastructure, state worker pensions and other essential programs have reached dangerous levels of disinvestment. What solutions would you support to raise the necessary revenue for the public investments Kentuckians need and deserve?
1. The Budget needs more reduction.
2. Casinos must be legalized for tax revenue.
3. Marijuana Legalization should be addressed by the Legislature.
4. As Governor, I will direct all state agencies to present line item budgets each month to my office, in order to continually cut our reliance on taxpayer dollars.
I will also name a task force to continually review departmental budgets, state revenue and income possibilities.
As Governor, I will actually do the job that so many have failed to do.
Question 8:
Do you support Kentucky’s public workers having a quality public pension? What do you consider to be a quality public pension?
Yes.
In their case, the quality pension I support is the one they were promised.
It's time for the Legislature to come through on that promise.
As Governor, I will be at the Legislative Building every single day meeting with leaders from both sides to force positive advancements on the issue.
Question 9:
What will you do to support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer) Kentuckians? What will you do to protect people from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity?
Discrimination, in any form, is immoral.
As Governor, Kentuckians should know I will support ALL of them.
On Day One, I will produce an Executive Order demanding ALL State Agencies enforce regulations that protect LGBTQ individuals.
I will also hold quarterly meetings with leaders of these groups in Frankfort in order to hear their concerns directly.
I will work with the people, not against them.
I will also ask that any individual finding themselves in a position where they feel they've been treated unfairly by a state agency to email me directly.
I will be hands on.
Finally, I will proclaim The Commonwealth of Kentucky a "Safe State."
There should be no doubt that individuals who violate the rights of the LGBTQ Community will face the consequences. I'll demand they be prosecuted to the harshest punishment under the law.
Hate Crimes are unacceptable - Period.
Question 10:
Kentucky has the ninth highest incarceration rate in the nation, is second in the nation for incarcerating women, and has the second highest rate in the country of children separated from a parent due to incarceration. In addition, black Kentuckians makeup 8.3% of the state population but 21% of the state’s incarcerated population. Are you committed to ending mass incarceration in Kentucky? If elected, what will you do to make strides toward ending mass incarceration?
As Governor, I will make it clear that Kentucky will NOT support for-profit prisons.
I will personally ask the Attorney General to investigate any agency.jurisdiction that has an unusually high rate of minority and female conviction.
I will also support criminal justice reform that will focus on rehabilitation, not a cycle of repeat incarceration.