PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – The two men hoping to emerge from the Kentucky’s May primary election as the Democratic nominee for 93rd District state representative squared off in a debate Monday night at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville.
Democrats in Martin County and part of Pike County will choose between incumbent Chris Harris and challenger Douglas Ray Sayers.
Harris is a lawyer who just completed his first term in the House, while Sayers is a long time coal miner.
Sayers wasted little time at Monday’s debate before talking about the quality and availability of water in Martin County.
The Kentucky Public Service Commission is investigating the Martin County Water District. Sayers is calling for the governor to declare a state of emergency.
“Besides jobs, the single most important thing in the 93rd district is water from Martin County,” Sayers said. “I mean, would you even bathe in that? I wouldn’t bathe my dog in that.”
Sayers and Harris agree swift action needs to be taken to correct problems with the water.
Harris said the region’s issues run even deeper.
“I think we have generational problems in Eastern Kentucky,” Harris said. “Stepping back and looking at our problems, I think the biggest solution to our problems is education. We have got to become a more educated society.”
Harris pointed to his legislative accomplishments as proof he deserves another two years in the Frankfort, while Sayers argued Harris and other elected officials have not done enough to bring jobs to Eastern Kentucky.
“They want to do everything to get them re-elected, not worrying about the working people here,” Sayers said. “They want to keep the working people in bondage so we look up to them to see how they want us to go. I feel like we’re in Egypt and we’re waiting for somebody to lead us out of here.”
Harris said, “I’ve got a proven track record of standing up for the people of the 93rd district, not special interests. I ran two years ago against an entrenched incumbent because I thought we deserved better. I thought we could do better and I think we have done better.”
The Appalachian News-Express hosted Monday’s debate.
Whoever wins the May 17 primary will face Republican Norma Kirk-McCormick in the November general election.
