He never won an election, but one of Kentucky’s most well-known candidates has died.

Perennial gubernatorial candidate Gatewood Galbraith passed away in his sleep at his Lexington home this morning at the age of 64. Galbraith ran for governor numerous times—as a democrat, under the Reform Party ticket and more often than not as an independent.

If you asked Gatewood why he kept running, he’d say because Kentucky has “perennial problems.”

Twice his political opponent, Governor Steve Beshear said he was saddened by Gatewood’s passing and called him a “passionate man.”

Galbraith was perhaps best known for his support of legalizing marijuana and was also the author of the book titled “The Last Free Man in America.”

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01/04/2011/am