11pm Monica's Governor Interview 12082020

Monica talks with Governor Andy Beshear about this year and the next.

Now..

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Governor andy beshear is reflecting on an unprecedented year.

A global pandemic.

Racial unrest.

Breonna taylor.

Record unemployment and a contested presidential election.

Abc 36's monica harkins spoke one- on-one with the governor about a lot of those issues...some of the backlash he's received as he looks ahead to a hopeful 2021.

Ten months of a pandemic making mask wearing and social distancing everyday actions...it's no surprise this year is not what governor andy beshear had in mind for his first year in office.

"it's true that this year has been hard.

It has been it's been hard on everybody" in true 2020 fashion... i talked to governor beshear over skype tuesday afternoon about this - frankly a rollercoaster - of a year.

"monica: when you go to bed at night is there anything that irks you, that you wish you could have done better?

Governor beshear: when you, when you're fighting a virus that the decisions are about life and death.

And the compliance that.

How many people follow them equates to to life and death.

Every night, every night it's 'could i have said something different.

Could i have appealed in a different way.'" even through there have been public protests and lawsuits against his restrictions..gove rnor beshear stands by his decisions.

"beshear: i have a clear conscience about those decisions that have been made."

Meanwhile...amidst the pandemic...an outcry for racial justice and equality.

Nat pop i asked governor beshear what he would like to say to black kentuckians.

"we're committed to addressing the systematic inequalities that we have seen for far too long in our state and in our country.

And i hope that you have seen action."

Actions like recognizing the health disparity for people of color and coronavirus...and cultural training for law enforcement.

He also acknowledges there's still more to do.

As a governor...the outcome of the november presidential election can't be ignored.

"there are a couple of things that the biden administration is going to bring to the table.

One is, is not changing direction, but changes in how we battle the pandemic that i think are really going to help ."

Governor beshear's overall sentiment...there is still hope.

" i think we're gonna have a bright 2021, certainly the second half of 2021 is going to be truly exciting and pretty normal.

And, we all look forward to getting back to normal."

In lexington, monica harkins abc 36 news.

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