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Trey Grayson for secretary of state
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:50 PM EDT
He was also alone -- no handlers, no campaign managers to make sure he said the right thing, no assistant taking phone calls and urging him to hurry on to the next appointment.
The young man shook the rain drops from his suit, extended his hand and introduced himself.
"Hello, my name is Trey Grayson and I'm running for secretary of state."
He then sat down and began to tell us his story.
A Harvard business school grad, Grayson was set to begin a job in the high-powered world of finance on New York City's Wall Street. Just before he was scheduled to begin, he received a call he had been waiting for -- he had been accepted into law school at the University of Kentucky. Without ever looking back, the northern Kentucky native did what he had known he would. He came home, not because he had to but because it was what he wanted to do.
During that meeting four years ago, we were immediately impressed not only by Grayson's honesty and candor, but also by his lack of political polish which often comes across as slick on more seasoned campaigners. He seemed like a breath of fresh air for the commonwealth's political scene and just what Kentuckians needed -- one of their own who was committed to public service for all the right reasons.
Despite our fondness for Grayson, we doubted his ability to take on Kentucky's political machine and win. We were wrong. Perhaps mostly because of the winds of political change which swept through the state in 2003 but also a bit because his sincerity and determination to serve came across to voters, Grayson won and took office as secretary of state.
And while politicians more often than not disappoint us, that has not been the case with Grayson.
During his tenure in office, Grayson has delivered on his campaign promises. He has worked to ensure open and fair elections, he has improved on-line access to his office and to election information, and he has been a vocal advocate for civics education in Kentucky schools. Even though he could be classified as a rookie, he has gained the respect of his fellow secretaries of state and has earned an office in their national organization. And he has done it all without sacrificing his vision, family values and ethics. In many ways, he has remained that same unassuming young man we first met in 2003.
Trey Grayson is the kind of person we need in Kentucky politics -- smart, open and honest with a sincere desire to serve the people of the commonwealth. He deserves our votes on Nov. 6.
It is without reservation that The Ledger Independent endorses Trey Grayson for his second term as our secretary of state.
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