 During his time as lieutenant governor , Ford rebuilt the state 's Democratic machine , which would help elect him and others , including Senator Walter Huddleston and Governor Martha Layne Collins . When Governor Nunn asked the legislature to increase the state sales tax in 1968 from 3 percent to 5 percent , Ford opposed the measure , saying it should only pass if food and medicine were exempted . Ford lost this battle ; the increase passed without exemptions . From 1970 to 1971 , Ford was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors . 
