Downtown plan fallout fails to materialize in election

Bruce Kunze, John Kazlauskas and David Johnson all voted for the insurance premium tax increase in February of 2009 that will fund Owensboro's downtown improvements. In fact, they were the only three who voted for the increase who were on Tuesday's local ballot. They all survived quite nicely and will be on the November ballot despite opposition from several newcomers.

Kunze stepped up to the judge executive race and easily won the Democrat nomination. Kazlauskas finished third and Johnson fifth in the 12-way battle to choose the top eight candidates for four spots in November. What may be more telling is that those most vocal in their opposition to the downtown plan were soundly defeated. In the GOP primary for judge executive, former city commissioner Al Mattingly trounced his two opponents--both very vocal opponents of the insurance tax increase. Mattingly didn't campaign against the downtown plan. Neither did the two top vote-getters in the city commission race, Pamela Smith-Wright or Roger Stacy.

Surely, there's been many vocal opponents of the tax increase and the downtown plan. Everyone seems to have an opinion, and many of us who supported the plan have wondered if it was simply a loud minority or majority. Tuesday's results would seem to indicate that there are in fact many "quiet" supporters of it.

Downtown Owensboro has a long way to go to be all its supporters envision. Tuesday night, however, those who predicted a "complete sweep" of local government should be disappointed. More appropriately, those who support the downtown plan should be heartened.