LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Lawyer and frequent candidate for Kentucky governor Gatewood Galbraith has died. The Fayette County Coroner's Office says family members found him at home on his bed, "unresponsive." It said he had been ill for several days with congestion in his lungs and suffering from "cold-like symptoms which had been complicated by chronic asthma and emphysema."
His lieutenant governor candidate in last year's election, Dea Riley, posted a message on Facebook about Galbraith's death:
"Dear Friends I have just been notified that Gatewood passed away last night. I am heading to Lexington to be with his family. Please say a prayer for his family and friends and all those who loved him."
The response on Facebook on Riley's and Galbraith's pages was swift. Noel Christian Riddell commented, "Oh God, no.... We have lost a great man. So proud to have known him." And Mike Fioretti said, "It's a sad day for freedom."
Steve Johnson commented, "Kentucky politics just got a lot less interesting." And Steven Smith said, "May God bless 'the last free man in America.'"
Governor Steve Beshear, who defeated Galbraith in last year's governor's race, released a statement Wednesday saying, "Jane and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Gatewood's passing. He was a gutsy, articulate and passionate advocate who never shied away from a challenge or potential controversy. His runs for office prove he was willing to do more than just argue about the best direction for the state – he was willing to serve, and was keenly interested in discussing issues directly with our citizens. He will be missed."
Senate President David Williams, who also ran against Galbraith, said in a statement, "I was saddened to hear about Gatewood's passing. He and I have been friends for almost four decades. His wit, humor, and intellect made him one of the most intriguing of Kentucky originals."
"He traveled the road less traveled by. He was not a standard thinker and a standard politician," says Rep. Jody Richards, a Bowling Green Democrat.
According to his campaign website, Galbraith ran for Kentucky governor as a Democrat in 1991 and 1995. He became disillusioned with both the Democratic and Republican parties, though, and ran for governor as a Reform Party candidate in 1999. In 2007 he tried again to win the Democratic Party's nomination for governor and failed. He ran for attorney general as an Independent in 2003. During his political career he also ran for agriculture commission and for Congress.
His latest run for governor last year was also as an Independent candidate. He had hoped the bitter rivalry between Democratic incumbent Governor Steve Beshear and Republican Senate President Williams would lead voters to seek an alternative and that they would vote him into office. Galbraith actively courted Tea Party supporters, as well.
But Beshear won the race with 56 percent of the vote to Williams' 35 percent and Galbraith's 9 percent.
Galbraith was an avid proponent -- and a self-avowed smoker -- of marijuana, which he proposed legalizing for medical uses. It was a stand that often dominated discussions of his political campaigns, despite his attempts to broaden his appeal and tackle other issues.
"Gatewood was talking about hemp and biofuels and energy long before they were popular," Dea Riley tells WDRB News.
During last year's run for governor, he said his main goal was to create more jobs. He proposed to give a $5,000 voucher to every high school graduate in Kentucky, to be used for post-secondary education, whether at a university or trade school. He also voiced support for expanding gambling to help the horse racing industry and opposed mountain top removal coal mining.
In a public forum on the governor's race in September of last year, Galbraith said party gridlock is preventing government from getting anything accomplished: "Everybody here knows that Medicaid is under funded, right? Everybody here knows that the pensions are in great peril, right? That retirement is in great peril, that we're not funding education nowadays. Everybody knows that, but they're still voting straight parties."
Galbraith is survived by his three daughters. Funeral arrangements are pending, but are being handled by Milward Funeral Directors in Lexington.
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