By Calen McKinney, Central Kentucky News-Journal, Campbellsville, Ky.

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -If elected as governor, Anne Northup says she'll provide strong leadership to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Northup was in Campbellsville recently as the third in a series of gubernatorial candidate forums. The forums are sponsored by Campbellsville University's Kentucky Heartland Institute for Public Policy and Team Taylor County. Northup, a Republican, spoke in CU's Gheens Recital Hall.

She said visiting the City of Campbellsville isn't new to her - she's been here several times with her family for swim meets.

Northup said she chose to visit Campbellsville because it's one of many Kentucky communities she thinks is a wonderful place to raise a family.

She said she's often been asked where she learned how to become a member ofCongress. The answer, she says, doesn't come from her educational background.“I learned far more about the challenges we face by being a wife andmother.”

Northup and her husband, Woody, have six children. Two have battled cancer, she said, which helped her learn the importance of healthcare firsthand.“

Affordable healthcare and insurance is very, very important.”She said it's also important that schools challenge students and developevery child's talents and skills to be successful.Northup spoke of the importance of children having a mother and father tohelp them stay on the right path.“It's like walking a dog,” she said.

“If you know where you're going, you'llget around the block … We have to learn where we're going.”To do this, Northup said, requires strong leadership and learning to lookfurther down the road.

Northup said math is essential for students in all grade levels, not justfor those who want a career in the math field.She say's KERA testing stresses the importance of reading and writing, butshe thinks the importance of math has been lost.

“That's one area where we'e five years behind.”Northup said Kentucky needs to focus on where it's going.“We need to be saying, ‘Where are we going and how are we going to getthere?'”Strong leadership, she says, is a start.

“Strong leadership is being able to look people in the eye and saying, ‘Weneed your support.'”When talking about issues relevant to communities, such as the HeartlandParkway and Campbellsville University, she said, Kentucky's governor shouldlisten and want to help.“[But the governor] needs your cooperation too … to help merge togetherthe different views.”

Northup also discussed the importance of families.Though urban and rural communities might be different, she said, all mothersgo to sleep worried about their children struggling in school.“Every family deserves to be heard in the state legislature.

”Jobs, Northup said, are also important.

“Technologically advanced jobs can be [anywhere],” she said.“[Infrastructure] is absolutely essential.

”Northup said she and her running mate, Jeffrey Hoover, will answer questionsdirectly and are ready to tackle issues.“We'll be strong focused and answer questions directly,” she said.

Hoover is currently serving his sixth term in the Kentucky House ofRepresentatives. He also attended the forum.“I believe in this lady,” he said. “The state needs strong leadership andnew ideas. She has a passion and strong desire to move Kentucky forward. Ibelieve we can do this and lead Kentucky to the way it needs to be.”

Northup fielded questions from the audience, some of which asked her stanceon morality, abortion and stem cell research.

Northup said the temptations facing today's youth and greater than they haveever been. “I can't say enough about setting a good example.”When she first became involved in politics, Northup said, she realized shehad become a role model - whether she wanted to or not.

“As my husband says, living a good life is it's own reward.”

Northup said she is a pro-life supporter and believes that sex educationcourses should teach the importance of abstinence.“I wouldn't be running for governor if I didn't think the current governorneeded to be replaced,” she said.Northup said she is against stem cell research.“

I believe from the moment [an] embryo begins, it's a unique person that hasall the talents and traits of a human, live person.”She says amniotic fluid cell research might be an even better source of stemcell research.“That doesn't mean the loss of a life,” she said. “That's what I embrace.”

Northup has served in the Kentucky General Assembly and in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives. Northup introduced the first legislation that made itillegal to sell cigarettes to children under the age of 18.

Each of the candidates will be featured on Campbellsville University's TV-4television show “Dialogue on Public Issues.”

Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master's colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.