May Freeper Don Bell start the trend...
From: Senator Virgil Moore Governor Campaign Committee
Contact: Virgil Moore
241 Moore Rd, Leitchfield, KY 42754
phone: 1-800-707-0145
Fax: 1-270-359-2108
http://www.virgilmoore.com/
e-mail:
senmoore@kynet.net
Fore Immediate Release:
Frankfort, KY January 15, 2003
Yesterday afternoon, State Senator Virgil Moore
formally filed the necessary forms to become a Republican
candidate for Governor. Don Bell, of Oldham County, joined
Senator Moore on the ticket as candidate for Lt. Governor.
Don Bell, a former Marine, retired after a
career as a U.S. Secret Service agent. Over the years, Bell
protected Presidents Ford, Nixon, Reagan and Bush. In recent
years, Mr. Bell has overwhelmingly won five key races in
Republican primaries; two of which were state-wide races.
Senator Moore reports: "We have secured the base
to move forward and win the Republican primary for Governor
this May. Unofficially, we started quietly working to secure
support for our campaign many months ago. So, even though
the campaign officially begins today, we already have a great
group of campaign volunteers in place around our Commonwealth
and, every day, more folks are coming forward to help in
our campaign. These folks are both ready and willing to get
this campaign started. Which means, out of this year's
crowded Republican ticket, we have the best chance to win."
Both Virgil Moore and Don Bell have been leaders
all of their adult lives. Both men have broad administrative
experience. As a career Army officer, Senator Moore has vast
experience as a commander, administrator and personnel
manager. Currently, Moore is serving his eleventh year in
the state senate, where he has consistently been a stabilizing
influence on that body. As a retired career Secret Service
agent, Don Bell compliments the ticket with leadership
skills, strong accounting skills and an unprecedented
experience at sniffing out waste, fraud and abuse.
In 1995, Senator Moore was appointed to the Capitol
planning and advisory committee by then President Ech Rose
and Senator John Rogers to prepare the incoming Governor a
draft budget. That committee prepared a draft that was
accepted by Governor Patton as written, with few changes.
The 1996 budget provided for a 2.8% pay raise for all state
employees and a $200-million surplus that started Kentucky's
rainy day fund.
In the 2000 legislative session, Senator Moore
accurately predicted the state's current budget shortfall and
repeatedly urged the Governor to take corrective steps.
Moore also repeatedly asked the administration to cooperate
with the General Assembly to prevent the continued loss of
manufacturing jobs in Kentucky. Unfortunately, Senator
Moore's concerns fell on deaf ears.
Moore says: "At that time, the Governor could have
permitted the house to pass legislation that would have saved
some of Kentucky's jobs, which would have softened the drop
in our economy. But, he did not. Instead the Governor spoke
of tax increases.
"Meanwhile others, like the Governor of West
Virginia, were pointing in the correct direction by working
with businesses and encouraging them to expand in their
states -- which both provided new jobs and expanded the
states' tax bases. The results are that the growth rate in
states like West Virginia are now much higher that
Kentucky's." Virginia's administration also has an ongoing
advertising program promoting Virginia as Business Friendly.
These failures by the current administration were
instrumental in encouraging Senator Moore to consider running
for Governor himself -- and hardened his resolve to do so.
As Senator Moore repeatedly states: "We can do better."
Indeed, as both Moore and Bell believe, the people of
Kentucky deserve better.
Senator Moore feels he is the most prepared of
any of the candidates to accept the responsibility to lead
Kentucky forward. Moore feels "we can and will do better"
for Kentucky. The Moore-Bell team will make a difference
for the people of Kentucky by improving Kentucky's economy
while also providing for education, health care, roads, water,
and infrastructure.
Senator Moore says he has demonstrated the
determined strength our state needs to exercise the
discipline needed on so many issues. He feels he and Don
Bell can definitely do better for Kentucky.
Mike Moreland, a Boone County Magistrate who
also serves as state chairman for the Republican Liberty
Caucus, says that Virgil Moore is one of only five state
senators who have pledged to uphold the free-market
principles espoused by that group. "In order to receive the
endorsement of our organization, a candidate must demonstrate
the willingness to reduce government while supporting
individual liberty and privacy. Both Senator Moore and Mr.
Bell have demonstrated this quality." Other state-wide
organizations have also already stated their support for the
Moore-Bell ticket.
-- 0.0.0. --
2 enclosures:
Virgil Moore bio
Don Bell bio
Virgil Moore Biography - Short Version
41 moore rd, Leitchfield Ky 42754'
phone 1-800-707-0145
Virgil Moore was born in Knox County, Kentucky, and
spent most of his boyhood in a small community near
Barbourville until his graduation from Knox Central High
School. After graduating, Virgil chose to juggle three part-
time jobs in order to attend Indiana Technical College, but
soon realized his true calling would be in the United States
Army, ultimately serving as a decorated Vietnam military
commander.
Upon completing his initial four-year enlisted term,
Virgil joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Eastern
Kentucky University where he graduated with a Bachelors of
Science in Business and Math, and was subsequently
commissioned in the United States Army at the rank of Second
Lieutenant by President John F. Kennedy. While attending
college, Virgil also met his wife of 44 years, Sharon Maupin,
and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Together
they have three children: Gina, Dana and Scott.
All in all, Virgil Moore served his country for 21
years in the Army, completing tours in Germany, Korea and
Vietnam, during which time he also won the Bronze Star for
Valor. Then, upon retirement from the military, Virgil chose
to pursue a life-long interest in farming on his 600-acre
homestead in rural Grayson County, where he continues to
raise cattle, tobacco, timber and grain. Shortly after his
retirement, however, Virgil was once again called upon to
assist the citizens of the Commonwealth by serving as the
Grayson County Republican Party Chairman from 1982-1990, a
role which would later lead to his election as State Senator
in 1992.
Now re-elected to that same office on two subsequent
occasions, Virgil currently serves the citizens of Kentucky
as Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee, Vice-Chairman
of the Licensing and Occupations Committee, and as a senior
member of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources and
Veterans Affairs Committees.
If elected Kentucky's next Governor, Senator Virgil
Moore will continue his dedication to our Commonwealth by
working to reduce taxes, localize education, and limit federal
and state expansion into private enterprise.
Don Bell Biography -- Short Version
1802 Fairway Dr., LaGrange, KY 40031
Don was born in Parnell, KY (Wayne County) and is
one of eleven children. He has been married to Stephanie 32
years. They reside in Buckner, KY, and have three children:
Becky, Greg and Brian.
At age 18, Don began working at FBI Headquarters in
Washington, D.C. During these years, he became a tour
leader, taking visitors on tours of the FBI Headquarters. At
this young age, he dealt with the offices of J. Edgar Hoover
and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. After completing
four years in Washington, Don left to attend college.
Don earned his B.S. Degree from Murray State University
and his M.A. Degree from George Washington University. Don
had a career with the United States Secret Service, serving
20 years as a Special Agent. During his career, he was
assigned to protect former President Truman, Presidents
Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan, and Vice President Bush.
Don received recognition from the FBI, DEA,
Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. While assigned to the Secret Service
Headquarters, he served as the liaison representative with
the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Congress and the U.S.
Department of Justice, including FBI headquarters.
Don was featured on the CBS TV program '60 Minutes,'
as a result of an investigation that had an impact on fraud
and corruption in Kentucky.
Don served his country in the United States Marine
Corps. He is an honorary Chief of Police with the Louisville
Police Department and a member of the Kentucky Peace Officers
Association. He has also served as a member of the U.S.
Magistrate/Judge Selection Panel.
Guys, I would say we can depend on the endorsement of Take Back Kentucky and Take Back Louisville. Don't you think? :>