LEXINGTON, KY (WAVE) - Gatewood Galbraith, a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky and an outspoken proponent of education, the legalization of marijuana, privacy rights and other civil liberties has died at his home near Lexington. Galbraith was 64 years old.
Dea Riley, Galbraith's running mate in the 2011 gubernatorial election, confirmed Galbraith's death Wednesday morning.
The Fayette County coroner's office said Galbraith died of natural causes. Family members found Galbraith unresponsive on his bed Wednesday morning. He had been sick for several days with cold-like symptoms and congestion in his lungs complicated by chronic asthma and emphysema.
According to WAVE 3's sister station in Lexington, WLEX-TV, Galbraith was born on January 23, 1947 in Carlisle, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1974 and from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1977. Galbraith's law practice in Lexington focused on criminal law and personal injury civil actions.
Galbraith ran for various offices in Kentucky, including commissioner of agriculture and attorney general, and ran for governor five times - as a Democrat in 1991, 1995 and 2007, as a Reform Party candidate in 1999 and as an independent in 2011. Galbraith received 74,860 votes (8.99%) in last year's election. On his 2011 campaign website, Galbraith said he was "Totally independent. I'm an American, and I'm a free man. And that's my dogma."
Galbraith was a vocal advocate of the legalization of marijuana. In a candidate debate on Kentucky Educational Television on May 14, 2007, Galbraith noted that fifteen states have legalized cannabis; all did so after Galbraith first began his advocacy on that issue as a candidate for statewide office.
Galbraith pitched his 2011 campaign to young voters. In particular, he proposed a freeze on college tuition, a $5,000 grant to high school graduates for college or technical school, and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. He raised $100,000 of his $500,000 budget and was endorsed by the United Mine Workers, the first time the union had backed an independent.
Governor Steve Beshear issued the following statement: "Jane and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Gatewood's passing. He was a gutsy, articulate and passionate advocate who never shied away from a challenge or potential controversy.
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."
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