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Gatewood Galbraith

January 29, 2012 by · Comments Off on Gatewood Galbraith 

Gatewood Galbraith, In his autobiography, The Last Free Man in America: Meets the Synthetic Subversion, Gatewood Galbraith described his efforts to get the letters of recommendation he needed to take the bar exam.

As a University of Kentucky law student Galbraith had already taken up the campaign to legalize marijuana that he carried on until his death early Wednesday at the age of 64. He struck out when he approached some prominent men for letters. They initially agreed to endorse the young law student but changed course as they considered the impact of associating with a pro-pot radical. So Mr. Galbraith turned to an electrician and two housekeepers who worked for the university. “We had spoken to each other almost every day over the last three years and I valued their friendship,” he wrote. Apparently the sentiment was returned. “You’re the nicest guy who ever came through here and I think you’d make a great lawyer,” he remembered one of them saying, and the other two agreed. Their letters were ready the next day.

The story rings true to anyone who ever saw Mr. Galbraith on the campaign trail during his many unsuccessful attempts at public office, including his fifth race for governor last year. He never walked away from his beliefs to curry favor with the powers-that-be, he was friendly to everyone, and he was often the nicest guy when the candidates gathered. He cared about Kentuckians, not as potential voters but as people.

Although known — and often dismissed — for his pro-marijuana stance, Mr. Galbraith was not a one-issue candidate. He advocated outlawing mountaintop removal mining, modernizing Kentucky’s antiquated tax system and giving high school graduates $5,000 for books, tuition and fees for college. He raised very little money and didn’t have public relations advisors, pollsters or party veterans to shape him into a more electable candidate. He was much too independent for that. But he elevated the debate when candidates met, insisting on talking about how to solve Kentucky’s myriad problems while his well-financed opponents slung rehearsed barbs and half-truths at each other.

Gatewood Galbraith

January 4, 2012 by · Comments Off on Gatewood Galbraith 

Gatewood GalbraithGatewood Galbraith, Lexington lawyer Gatewood Galbraith, a perennial candidate for public office and one of the more colorful characters on Kentucky’s political landscape, has died at his home in Lexington at age 64, the Fayette County Coroner’s office said Wednesday.

The cause of death was listed as complications from chronic emphysema.

According to the coroner’s office, Galbraith was found unresponsive in his bed Wednesday morning by family members.

“He had been sick for several days with congestion in his lungs (and) … had been suffering from cold-like symptoms which had been complicated by chronic asthma and emphysema,” the office said in a statement.

Galbraith ran as an independent candidate for governor last November with businesswoman Dea Riley as his lieutenant governor running mate. He finished third in the three-candidate race, which was won by incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear.

“Dear friends I have just been notified that Gatewood passed away last night,” Riley said in a Facebook posting Wednesday. “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.”

Galbraith attracted attention as a young candidate for being a proponent of legalized marijuana, wearing a hemp suit and campaigning in his “hempmobile,” a used Mercedez-Benz station wagon that ran on hemp oil. In later years, he toned down such activities and took a more conservative stance in repeated, though unsuccessful, runs for office.

But he remained colorful and controversial, unleashing a fiery speech at last year’s annual Fancy Farm political picnic in August.

Over several decades, Galbraith ran five times for governor — three times as a Democrat, once on the Reform ticket and last year as an independent. He also ran unsuccessfully for state agriculture commissioner, attorney general and Congress.

Beshear issued a statement Wednesday saying that he and his wife, Jane, are saddened by Galbraith’s death.

“Jane and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Gatewood’s passing,” Beshear said. “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.”

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Galbraith “had a commonsense way of looking at problems and government. Even though some of his ideas may have been far-fetched, others were worth certainly considering.”

In his most recent bid for governor, Galbraith said his views were straighforward and simple.

“I’m a Barry Goldwater conservative,” he told The Courier-Journal in October. “I want the government to stay out of my life unless I represent a threat to somebody else or their property.”

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