BY CATHERINE TSAI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL -- One of Kentucky's two living winners of the Medal of Honor announced Thursday the formation of the Veterans for Lucas Committee, pledging support for Democratic congressional candidate Ken Lucas.
Retired Pfc. Ernest "Ernie" West announced the committee's support of Boone County's former judge-executive in this fall's 4th District race as about 50 people gathered in Ashland.
Mr. Lucas, a Democrat, is running against state Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams, a Republican. As in the past, Mr. Lucas' supporters pointed out differences between the military histories of Mr. Lucas and his opponent, who never saw combat.
Mr. Williams' resume once said Mr. Williams had graduated from the Naval Academy when in fact he dropped out in the 1970s, Mr. West said.
Mr. Williams acknowledged that he never saw combat though he received 18 months of military training, which he called "invaluable." He also said he corrected his resume after it was brought to his attention. "In this race, there are two candidates who claim to be for the military," Mr. West said. " . . . One man waves the flag. Ken Lucas has served under it. (Gex Williams) seeks to fool the public, listing in his official state legislative biography that he graduated from the Naval Academy when he knew full well that he did not."
Mr. Lucas told supporters how he flew a Lockheed Shooting Star in the Air Force.
Mr. Lucas said he would work hard for veterans.
"If there is one area of the federal budget where there is no doubt, where there should be bipartisan, broad consensus, it should be in funding health care to our veterans," Mr. Lucas said.
Mr. Williams said he voted to fund two veterans' nursing homes in Kentucky.
"I have tried to support veterans' issues at every opportunity," he said.
