Wallace G. Wilkinson

Wallace G. Wilkinson (May 23, 1928–July 5, 2002) was a Kentucky businessman who made a fortune with college bookstores. He entered the 1987 Democratic primary for governor of Kentucky as an unknown running against a field that included two previous Kentucky governors, John Y. Brown, Jr. and Julian Carroll, and the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, Steven Beshear. Wilkinson lavishly financed his own campaign and hired a talented but then unknown consultant named James Carville. Powered by advertisements touting Wilkinson's proposed state lottery, Wilkinson won a stunning upset in the primary and coasted to a landslide victory in the fall over the Republican nominee, state representative John Harper.

Related Topics:
May 23 - 1928 - July 5 - 2002 - Kentucky - Businessman - 1987 - John Y. Brown, Jr. - Julian Carroll - Lieutenant Governor - James Carville - Lottery

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Wilkinson's term saw passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Wilkinson also secured legislation to establish a state lottery. The Wilkinson administration was dogged by ethical questions that eventually resulted in prosecution of some members. Wilkinson vigorously sought a constitutional amendment to allow gubernatorial succession but insisted that it include him, and the General Assembly was unwilling to grant that. As his term ended, Wilkinson ran his wife Martha Wilkinson in the 1991 Democratic primary against Lieutenant Governor Brereton Jones, Lexington mayor Scotty Baesler, and Dr. Floyd G. Poore. Trailing in the polls, Martha Wilkinson withdrew prior to the primary which Jones won en route to winning the general election that fall.

Related Topics:
Lieutenant Governor - Brereton Jones - Scotty Baesler

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After his service as governor Wilkinson's interest in running for another non-consecutive term as governor appeared to be dampened by the system of public financing that Kentucky had in place at that time for gubernatorial elections. Wilkinson's businesses began to have serious problems and by 2002 his bookstore empire was in bankruptcy; Wilkinson himself died on July 5, 2002.

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