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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Declaring a need for “new ideas and new leaders” in Kentucky politics, sports radio host Matt Jones and former state Auditor Adam Edelen on Tuesday announced the formation of the New Kentucky Project.

The two Democrats said they are frustrated by the partisan battles in Washington and Frankfort — Kentucky’s capital — and they sense a similar frustration among everyday Kentuckians from both parties.

Each swept aside questions about how the organization might benefit their future political plans, proclaiming the need to recruit younger, fresher faces and their new ideas to address Kentucky’s problems is much bigger than their political ambitions.

Jones, host of Kentucky Sports Radio, a wildly popular radio call-in show focusing on University of Kentucky athletics, last summer toyed with the idea of running for the U.S. Congress. Ultimately, he decided against it, but he said he was disillusioned by what he learned about becoming a candidate, especially by the emphasis by campaign professionals on raising money.

Edelen lost his re-election bid as auditor in 2015 to Republican Mike Harmon while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Conway lost to Republican Matt Bevin in a desultory, low-turnout race.

“I did a lot of soul-searching after the last election,” Edelen said. “It was a low turnout governor’s race because it wasn’t a campaign about ideas and people — it was about disqualifying the other candidate.”

So Jones and Edelen went to work, recruiting 120 county chairs and an executive committee to address the group’s core values of a “world class education” for every Kentuckian; access to affordable health care; a job which pays well enough to support a family for any Kentuckian willing and able to work; access to digital technology; and good government based on the needs of the people and not the interest of their representatives.

Dues are $20 per member, $10 for college students and people can join or learn more at www.newkentuckyproject.com.

The organization “leans Democratic,” Jones said, but as a non-profit 501 (3) (c), IRS tax-exempt organization can’t endorse candidates or contribute to campaigns. And while all members are so far Democrats, the two said Republicans are welcome too.

Jones said the Republican Party of Kentucky offers a “far right” agenda while Democrats “take no positions.” But he sees younger activists in local communities are addressing local problems and working together regardless of party.

And, Jones said, he believes “80 percent of Kentuckians think the same things” on most issues.

He and Edelen want to replace a “broken political system” built from ”the top down” with a “bottom up” system.

That’s what interested Matt Perkins, 28, a Democrat from Ashland who is running for the Ashland City Council.

“My candidacy is based on unity,” Perkins said. “The only way we can move Ashland forward is if we work together.”

Perkins said he’s a fiscal conservative but “probably more liberal about other things.” That shouldn’t prevent him working with social conservatives, however, on local issues on which they agree, he said.

Implicit in the formation of the group is the need to recruit a “Democratic bench,” said Angela Evans, an attorney and member of the Lexington Fayette County Urban Council and a member of New Kentucky Project’s executive committee.

John Benningfield, 47, a Democratic Barren County magistrate, agrees.

“I really think the Democratic Party has become stagnant and needs new energy and new ideas,” said Benningfield, who sees himself as a moderate.

But he thinks too “many politicians are scared to say what they really think. If you’re a Democrat and pro-choice, I think you should be able to say that. You’d be amazed that a lot of people feel the same way.”

Boyd and Barren counties have long Democratic traditions, but Jones said the idea is to reach out to people in all 120 counties, even Republican and rural areas — although the executive committee draws heavily from Jefferson and Fayette counties.

Whitney Casada Wilborn, 28, is a Democrat who lives in heavily Republican Pulaski County.

“You know, there’s not a lot of Democrats in Pulaski County,” she said. “But we can work together with people from both parties for what is best for Kentucky.”

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.