, ▁the ▁D elta ▁Airlines ▁Hub ▁in ▁Northern ▁Kentucky ▁and ▁dow nt own ▁re development ▁projects ▁in ▁Ash land , ▁Lex ington ▁and ▁Louis ville . ▁ ▁L uns ford ▁also ▁led ▁the ▁effort ▁to ▁reach ▁out ▁to ▁Japan ▁by ▁establish ing ▁a ▁Kentucky ▁office ▁there , ▁still ▁in ▁existence ▁today , ▁which ▁has ▁been ▁instrument al ▁in ▁attract ing ▁substantial ▁Japanese ▁invest ment ▁to ▁the ▁state . ▁ ▁Public ▁service ▁ ▁L uns ford ▁has ▁always ▁worked ▁in ▁education ▁and ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁Trust ees ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Kentucky , ▁Bell arm ine ▁College ▁and ▁Centre ▁College . ▁ ▁L uns ford ▁ran ▁for ▁the ▁Democratic ▁nom ination ▁for ▁Governor ▁of ▁Kentucky ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁The ▁race ▁was ▁a ▁content ious ▁contest ▁with ▁then - Att orney ▁General ▁Ben ▁Ch and ler ▁and ▁other ▁candidates . ▁Late ▁in ▁the ▁primary , ▁Ch and ler ▁ran ▁television ▁ad s ▁alleg ing ▁ab use ▁at ▁facilities ▁operated ▁by ▁L uns ford ' s ▁company . ▁L uns ford ▁dropped ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁race , ▁bl aming ▁these ▁ad s , ▁just ▁days ▁before ▁the ▁primary , ▁end ors ing ▁Democratic ▁candidate ▁J ody ▁Rich ards , ▁who ▁lost ▁narrow ly ▁to ▁Ch and ler . ▁ ▁Long ▁after ▁the ▁primary , ▁L uns ford ▁end ors ed ▁Republican ▁candidate ▁Er nie ▁F let cher . ▁After ▁F let cher ▁won ▁the ▁election , ▁L uns ford ▁served ▁on ▁Er nie ▁F let cher ' s ▁transition ▁team