State Treasurer

The State Treasurer is the chief fiscal officer for the state. They are responsible for recording and monitoring all of the state’s financial activities to ensure that the state government is acting in the best interest of taxpayers.

The winner will be elected Treasurer of Kentucky for the next 4 years.

Candidates

1. What do you think success as Kentucky’s Treasurer looks like? How will our commonwealth be better in four years if you are elected?     

Bowman (D) - The resolution to the decades old problems of fully funding and establishing an effective curriculum for financial literacy programs and resolving our state pension crisis is paramount. My goal as Treasurer would be to find and advocate for sustainable revenue, including expanded gaming and legalization of cannabis, that can provide the needed funding to solve these issues without increasing the tax burden on our families and allow our Commonwealth to make critical investments in other areas.     

2. How does your background qualify you for serving in this office?     

Bowman (D) - It has been nearly 40 years since we've had a Treasurer with professional training in finance. My experience as a bank officer and branch manager for a large bank with responsibility for a multi-million dollar portfolio of deposit and investment accounts, coupled with my service in local and state governments-  including administration of the Kentucky WIOA Statewide Reserve Fund, Work Ready Skills Initiative, and serving on the State Properties and Building Commission- not only gives me the necessary skills to be effective, but makes me the only candidate qualified to be Treasurer.     

3. More than 250 tax expenditures are draining Kentucky's General Fund. As treasurer, what reforms would you support to enhance our state tax system?     

Bowman (D) - The General Assembly's efforts to eliminate the individual income tax is not only misguided, but disastrous to the stability of the Commonwealth. While the idea sounds enticing, it would blow a multi-billion dollar hole in our budget and place more focus on sales tax revenue that adversely affects our poorest communities. Fighting to return to and improve upon a progressive income tax system that removes the largest burden from our struggling families, while placing greater responsibility to corporations and the wealthiest among us is critical. Additionally, eliminating certain tax credits and loopholes that allow the wealthy to avoid paying their fair share would provide additional stability to our budget for years to come.