Marzian, Adams race for Louisville House district focuses on youth vs. experience

A primary race in a Democratic district in eastern Louisville has crystallized around a conflict between youth and experience, reflecting broader tensions within the national Democratic Party.

During a Wednesday evening candidate forum at the Bon Air Library, 32-year-old attorney Rick Adams said his fresh approach would advance Democratic policies and help revitalize the party, while former State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a 69-year-old retired nurse, emphasized her nearly three decades of experience in Frankfort.

“It’s time for a change,” Adams said. “We won't get the change that we need with old ideas from glory days past.”

Marzian’s campaign slogan is “experience matters.” She served in the state legislature from 1994 until the end of 2022.

Marzian did not run in 2022 because redistricting changed her district, and she did not want to face off against fellow female Democrat Rep. Josie Raymond.

Now, Raymond is leaving the state legislature to run for Louisville Metro Council, opening the door for Marzian to try to regain her former position as a state representative.

Adams said his courtroom experience defending Louisville’s Fairness Ordinance and other progressive causes, as well as his work as Deputy General Counsel for the Kentucky Democratic Party, have prepared him to serve in the state legislature.

Though Marzian and Adams focused on their differences, they agree on many issues.

Both emphasized the need to better fund the public school system and said they will fight a November ballot measure to allow public funds to be spent on non-public education.

Adams and Marzian also said they would try to bolster women’s reproductive rights, defend LGBTQ rights, and oppose efforts to diminish government transparency.

Stunt legislation?

Adams was critical of Marzian’s legislative record, starting with her use of what he called “stunt legislation” in the past.

A 2016 bill Marzian introduced would have required wives to consent to their husbands’ use of Viagra and allowed only married men to obtain the drug. That drew national attention.

In 2019, she proposed an amendment to an abortion ban bill that would have required childbearing women to submit a monthly doctor’s note certifying they are not pregnant.

“We need to send representatives that are going to go support Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman on issues that we care about, not people that are going to throw bombs and introduce stunt legislation,” Adams said. “That might make us feel better for a few minutes, but ultimately it’s going to make it harder for us to accomplish the things we want to get done.”

Marzian defended her past tactics.

“Yes, I have done some stunt bills … just to make a point,” she said, adding the Viagra bill took aim at the increasing number of restrictions the legislature was putting on abortion.

“You have to make a point and sometimes you have to use humor to make a point, and I think it did,” Marzian said. “I will continue to find ways to make points.”

Adams also criticized Marzian’s voting record, saying she had a poor attendance record and missed key votes.

Marzian said she sometimes did not attend the legislature on Fridays or Mondays because those days often do not include substantive business. She said when she missed votes, she later recorded her vote, which legislators are allowed to do.

Nuclear energy

The two candidates also differed on whether Kentucky should boost nuclear energy in the state. Two bills passed in the state legislature this session would lay the groundwork for Kentucky to develop a nuclear energy ecosystem.

Marzian said she has been a strong supporter of green energy initiatives and she does not think nuclear energy is a good idea for Kentucky, citing safety concerns as one of her main reasons.

More: Nuclear energy in Kentucky? Lawmakers show early bipartisan support

“Like a lot of corporations, nuclear builders (and) developers, cut corners,” Marzian said.

Adams said nuclear energy should be on the table for Kentucky.

“I think nuclear power is something that we need to look at,” Adams said. “I’m confident that in 2024 we can build safe nuclear power reactors.”

Adams also said the state needs a “just transition to clean energy” so fossil fuel workers can find new opportunities in the green energy sector.

Big spender?

Marzian has raised more but spent far less than Adams.

Marzian has raised close to $77,000 but spent less than $6,000, according to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance records out this week.

Meanwhile, the Adams campaign has spent around $26,000 — including on digital ad buys — out of nearly $59,000 raised, according to the campaign finance reports filed this week.

More: What you need to know about the upcoming elections

The Adams campaign has knocked on over 4,500 doors and made contact with 300,00 voters, according to a press release. Adams plans to invest in more paid media in the run-up to the May 21 primary with the over $32,000 remaining in his campaign coffers.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell in the November general election. Cottrell will have an uphill battle in a district where Democrats picked up nearly 74% of the votes in 2022.

Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Marzian, Adams race for Kentucky House focuses on youth vs experience