530 2020 Josh Hicks and Andy Barr 11.02.2020

Race kentuckians have their eye on -- the 6- th congressional district.

Governor andy beshear endorsing democrat josh hicks -- who's hoping to unseat long-time incumbent andy barr in that race..

Abc 36's erica bivens has a closer look at the two candidates..

Erica bivens: "you've likely seen the attack ads..it's been a heated race..

And when it comes to spending..

Andy barr's campaign has raised about twice the amount as josh hicks..

Something hicks says can quote "drown out your voice"... barr meanwhile saying it's fair game to call out your opponent to point out the differences.."

Nat "it's about getting results."

Representative andy barr branding himself a solid choice as he seeks reelection in the race for kentucky's sixth congressional district, highlighting what he calls accomplishments over his past four terms..

Rep.

Andy barr: "whether its responding to the virus, getting more personal protective equipment from the strategic national stockpile, or literally hundreds of millions of dollars to local area hospitals and doctors to combat the virus, or expanding tele-health services so we're protecting healthcare workers."

Barr's opponent, josh hicks, calling attention to his background -- as a kid who grew up on a farm, serving as a u.s. marine and working as a practicing attorney..

Josh hicks: "i have dedicated a large chunk of my life to public service and its something i think is currently missing.

I think my voice is one that can encompass the wide variety of folks in the sixth district."

So let's breakdown the issues... on the coronavirus pandemic, hicks calling out a lack of federal guidance.

Hicks: "we're seeing developed countries all over the world who are having full attended sporting events and concerts and have everything wide open because they presented a unified front against this virus early on.

" barr: "we have really responded in a way that i think can enable the economy to open up."

Barr meanwhile saying we've learned a lot about balancing safety measures with getting people back to work and can now focus on 'more' testing to reopen schools and additional legislation... barr: "reload the paycheck protection program for those businesses in distress and we also need liability protection for colleges, universities, schools and small businesses " and when it comes to safety and law enforcement... erica: "talk about that balance between keeping the community safe and also policing."

Hicks: "yes ma'am.

Well i spent five years up in maysville and i was a police officer there, i had a number of jobs as a police officer, including helping to train police officers " hicks says he understands police have a tough job and believes officers are underpaid..

However... hicks: where we have good police officers as public servants doing the right things in their communities, we should boy them up.

We should make sure that they're getting all the support they need.

But we also have to recognize that where you have officers that are not doing the right thing that don't have that dedication to public service at heart, , we have to be a voice to stop that as well."

Barr agrees, in part... barr: "i think the vast majority of law enforcement officers are heroic, brave people."

However, barr believes 'more' funding is needed for police to maintain that standard and to improve morale.

Barr: "rather than defunding the police, we need to actually support policies that would provide more resources, more training, more body cameras.

That's why i support a police reform bill that would increase funding for law enforcement for $1.75 billion and provide 500,000 body cameras."

Erica bivens: barr talked a lot about his future plans -- from giving kentuckians another stimulus boost -- to implementing a china task force... to hold what he calls the chinese communist country responsible for the pandemic... hicks meanwhile, focused on a change in leadership, touting himself as a voice for the people..

In studio, erica bivens abc 36 news..

The candidates had much more to say... you can listen to their full interviews on our website wtvq dot com.