Lexington, KY - While many may have perceived Lexington lawyer Gatewood Galbraith as a perennial political candidate with a single issue, his 2011 running mate as an Independent in the race for Kentucky governor saw much, much more than that. "He was a good man. I will tell you that Gatewood was one of the finest men I have ever known," said Dea Riley, who received the news on Wednesday morning that her longtime friend, who had been suffering with emphysema, had died at 64.
Mark Wireman, Galbraith's 2007 running mate in the Democratic race for governor recalled that the man most referred to simply as Gatewood "said Kentucky had perennial problems" that those in office never fixed. Wireman had retired from his job with the state Transportation Cabinet the day the two filed to run for governor and lieutenant governor in '07.
"I was tired of hearing people say 'if you want to get ahead you've got to play the game.' It wasn't a game to Gatewood, it wasn't a game to me," said Wireman in a phone interview from his Jackson home Wednesday morning.
Wireman said the jovial Galbraith, who often answered inquiries to his well being with "currently unindicted," was passionate about making a change in Kentucky and was much more than just a candidate who wanted to see the state's marijuana laws changed.
"He was not a one issue person at all," Wireman said. "He was a very, very contentious person, he truly wanted to make Kentucky a better state, he truly did, I'm convinced of that. That was his mission. I said many times on the campaign trail that year that Gatewood had the courage the commitment and the intellect to do that, to get that done. Of course we fell a little short, but he was out there, he was out there trying."
He ran five unsuccessful campaigns in Kentucky gubernatorial elections. He and Wireman lost in the Democratic primary in 2007. In the 2011 election, Galbraith garnered just under 9 percent of the vote in the general election as an independent, running against Republican candidate and long time Senate President David Williams and the Democratic incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear.
"He was a gutsy, articulate and passionate advocate who never shied away from a challenge or potential controversy," the governor said in a statement released from his office.
"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," Beshear added.
Though he often ran for office, Galbraith never approached it as a career politician would. Rather than make phone calls to raise money or work the bean dinner circuit, one former campaign manager said Galbraith much preferred waving to passers by on a street corner while holding his campaign sign.
But the times he joined the other candidates at forums and debates, he showed his ability as a skilled orator.
"We went from one end of the state to another (doing Democrat candidate forums) and I heard them all at one time or another say 'I hate to follow Gatewood,'" Wireman said. "They didn't like to follow him and they said as much."
Riley recalled a man who always seemed to have time for anyone. "It didn't matter how disenfranchised an individual was, their economic status didn't matter. I have watched Gatewood stand and talk to a person who was absolutely mentally ill. He was never repulsed or turned away by that. He was always very equal and always extended himself to every individual he encountered. It speaks volumes as to his character."
Galbraith had been dealing with congestion and died in his sleep, according to a report from WLEX TV.
He was born in Carlisle, but moved to Lexington during his childhood. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1965 and joined the Marines. He was honorably discharged for health reasons during basic training and returned to Kentucky, attending the University of Kentucky and UK Law School. He served as a criminal defense attorney in Lexington.
Business Lexington Features Editor Susan Baniak and Editor in Chief Tom Martin contributed to this report.