Construction contractor Warren Stone (R-Independence) had plenty of room to stretch out on the stage for KET's televised 4th Congressional District GOP debate on Monday.

Stone was the only of the three candidates for the 4th District Republican nomination to appear for the debate.

Patrick Crowley of the Cincinnati Enquirer - who was also a panelist at the KET debate - reported incumbent Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Hebron) had a scheduling conflict and would remain in Washington, D.C. for "national security briefings."

Fellow candidate G.E. Puckett, of Flemingsburg, also did not appear at the event.

In what amounted to a seventeen-minute long opportunity for Stone to elaborate on his platform, his responses to the questions from Crowley and Carrie Kirschner of the Daily Independent (of Ashland, KY) found Stone zipping through his positions on a series of issues.

Concerning the war in Iraq, Stone he did not agree with an invasion of the country, but thought many of the goals set by war leaders had been accomplished.

"We can hold up our hands and say, good job boys, we won," said Stone.

He also maintained that some continued American presence in Iraq was necessary.

"A week after we leave, they are going to be fighting. That's their culture," said Stone, in reference to citizens in Iraq.

Stone argued airborn assets could maintain some stability in Iraq as ground troops were withdrawn.

"We need to establish an airbase," said Stone. "We can do it all from the air."

Stone also said he opposed tolls on bridges in northern Kentucky, and spoke of his concern about the national debt.

When asked by Crowley if he could beat heavily-favored incumbent Geoff Davis, Stone was unsure, but touched on what he said were his reasons for running.

"Who knows?" he said. "I'm just a guy that has got grandchildren now, and I'm wondering what is going to happen to them."

KET will continue to air weekly "candidate forums" in the weeks leading to the May 20 primary election. A new forum will air each Monday at 8pm EST.

Next week, Republican candidates for the 3rd District US House seat will be present. May 5, KET will host Democrats from the 2nd District and Republicans from the 6th. May 12 will feature both parties' candidates for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mitch McConnell.