The outcome of several key state House of Representative races in the Nov. 8 election could play a significant role in determining the future of important free-market policies in the near future in Kentucky that the Bluegrass Institute has worked hard to advance since Bowling Green entrepreneur Chris Derry founded the organization in 2003.At stake: pension reform, right-to-work, school choice, tax relief, affordable health care, regulatory reduction and transparency in government at every level.

It will be up to each policymaker elected -- whether Democrat or Republican -- to decide whether to support the proper role of government, which is to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, or use the force of government to erode the liberties of their fellow Kentuckians.

Each law passed, every dollar spent and each and every regulation either protects or diminishes Kentuckians’ freedoms.

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence; it is force,” President George Washington gets credit for saying. “Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

We hope those who win their races -- whether incumbents or challengers, Republicans or Democrats, urban or rural -- will come to Frankfort in January with a commitment to serve rather than rule.

In the spirit of educating citizens, we offer here the candidates involved in key races that media reports and political experts consistently mention as crucial to determining the future leadership of the Kentucky House of Representatives:

3rd District, Democrat-held:

Rep. Gerald Watkins, Democrat, vs. Joni Hogancamp, Republican

7th District, Republican-held:

Rep. Suzanne Miles, Republican, vs. Joy Gray, Democrat

10th District, Democrat-held:

Rep. Dean Schamore, Democrat, vs. T.W. Shortt, Republican

12th District, Republican-held seat:

Rep. Jim Gooch, Republican, vs. Jim Townsend, Democrat

20th District, Democrat-held seat:

Rep. Jody Richards, Democrat, vs. Melinda Hill, Republican

23rd District, OPEN seat:

Danny Basil, Democrat, vs. Steve Riley, Republican

38th District, Republican-held seat:

Rep. Denny Butler, Republican, vs. McKenzie Cantrell, Democrat

50th District, OPEN seat (has been Republican:

Chad McCoy, Republican, vs. James DeWeese, Democrat

62nd District, Democrat-held seat:

Rep. Chuck Tackett, Democrat, vs. Phillip Pratt, Republican

70th District, OPEN seat (has been Democrat):

John Sims, Democrat, vs. John VanMeter, Republican

74th District, Republican-held seat:

Rep. David Hale, Republican, vs. James Davis, Democrat

91st District, Democrat-held seat:

Rep. Cluster Howard, Democrat, vs. former Rep. Toby Herald, Republican

94th District, OPEN seat:

Angie Hatton, Democrat, vs. Frankie Justice, Republican

95th District, Democrat-held seat:

Rep. Greg Stumbo, Democrat, vs. Larry Brown, Republican

99th District, Democrat-held seat

Rep. Rocky Adkins, Democrat, vs. Wendy Fletcher, Republican