BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- Republican congressional candidate Gex "Jay" Williams' ethics are questioned in a tough radio commercial Democrat Ken Lucas plans for the airwaves today.
The ad, a parody of the television game show Jeopardy, attacks Mr. Williams on two fronts:
A tract of land Mr. Williams, a state senator from Verona, sold last year for $60,000 to one of his supporters, Dr. Arthur Nitz of Frankfort. Covington Democrat Robert Arnett has alleged in complaints filed with the Kentucky Ethics Commission that the deal was improper and that Mr. Williams did not fully disclose the transaction, a charge Mr. Williams has denied.
An entry published for several years in a state legislative directory that showed Mr. Williams graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Mr. Williams attended the academy but left in 1972 before graduating.
Mr. Williams said he never intentionally tried to mislead anyone about his academic or military record, and that the publication of the information was an oversight. He added that his campaign materials have always indicated he graduated from the University of Florida. Diplomas from Florida also hang in his statehouse office. Still, the airing of the ad shows that the 4th District race is quickly turning into the hard-fought, bitter contest a lot of political watchers and party leaders have been expecting.
Gex Williams' "false claims that he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and his shady land deal have cast real questions about his character," an announcer states in the Lucas ad.
"This land deal is highly questionable and anything but straight forward," John Lapp, Mr. Lucas' campaign manager, said in a statement. "How many people can say they sold their back yard for $60,000 and then kept the back yard?" Mr. Lapp said. "Voters deserve to know what really happened. Until Mr. Williams takes responsibility for his actions, his ethical problems that surround him will not go away."
Craig Hendricks, Mr. Williams' campaign manager, said Mr. Lucas is not telling all the facts in the ad.
"We are not talking about the game of Jeopardy," Mr. Hendricks said. "We are talking about To Tell the Truth."
Mr. Hendricks said Mr. Williams fully disclosed all the details about the land deal, though Mr. Williams did admit recently that he made an incorrect entry about the sale on the financial disclosure form all lawmakers are required to file annually.
The Williams campaign is also calling on Mr. Lucas, a real estate investor, to fully disclose all land transactions he made while a Florence city councilman and member of the Boone County Fiscal Court.
"Ken Lucas owes the public the same detailed disclosure provided by Gex Williams," Mr. Hendricks said.
"(Mr.) Lucas is playing a game with the truth," Mr. Hendricks said. "Why must he build himself up by tearing Williams down with smear tactics?"
