By Joe Biesk
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Republican Rebecca Jackson on Friday joined three other gubernatorial candidates on the state's airwaves with a 30-second TV spot touting her campaign.

Jackson claims a need for a change in leadership and promises an end to political corruption. In the ad, Jackson also promises to work toward lowering taxes.

"As governor, I'll put two guiding values in motion. First, put an end to corruption," Jackson says in the commercial. "Second, work to lower taxes. You deserve more money in your pocket and fewer crooks in Frankfort."

The commercial aired for the first time Friday in the Lexington area. It's also scheduled to air on cable statewide, Jackson said.

Dressed in black, Jackson delivers her message to the camera, following a brief montage of various newspaper clippings about corruption. She said the ad is designed to send a message to people that she will rein in government spending and end corruption in the state.

"We want people to understand that I'm going to stop corruption and that we are going to work very hard to make sure that we lower people's taxes," Jackson said in a phone interview.

Democrats Bruce Lunsford and Ben Chandler, along with Republican Ernie Fletcher, have already had TV campaign ads run in the state.

The television presence of other candidates for governor did not influence the Jackson TV ad campaign, she said. Rather, it was part of her early campaign strategy.

Jackson, a former Jefferson County judge-executive, said the campaign waited to release the ad because of the war in Iraq. She said she wanted to show respect for the war effort, while at the same time maintaining a presence in the race.

Besides Fletcher, the congressman from Kentucky's Sixth District, Jackson's Republican primary opponents are state Rep. Steve Nunn of Glasgow and state Sen. Virgil Moore of Leitchfield.

Lunsford, of Louisville, and Chandler, of Woodford County, face House Speaker Jody Richards of Bowling Green and Otis Hensley of Wallins in the Democratic primary.

Gov. Paul Patton, a Democrat, is winding down his second term and cannot seek re-election.