Ky. Gov Candidates Trade Ethics Charges (election on Tuesday)

Source: Associated Press

By JOE BIESK

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's race for governor between Democrat Steve Beshear and Gov. Ernie Fletcher looked like it would focus on the ethics of the Republican incumbent, who spent much of his first term battling a hiring scandal.

In the closing weeks of the campaign, however, Fletcher has seized on ethical questions about Beshear's legal work in a complicated insurance company liquidation that the Fletcher campaign has dubbed "Kentucky's Enron."

Both sides claim a just-released 1995 report bolsters their positions: Fletcher says Beshear and his former law firm acted unethically and hampered efforts to bail out the Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co., while Beshear contends the report negates Fletcher's claims.

Throughout a bruising three-way GOP primary in the spring, Fletcher had to almost constantly defend himself against claims the hiring scandal left him too politically weakened to withstand a Democratic challenge in the fall.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20071104/D8SN0T6O0.html

Charges made by Fletcher's camp that Beshear's law firm violated ethics during the liquidation of Ky Central Insurance company were mostly refuted by the report. While a violation did occur, a lawyer in the firm's Louisville location was doing business with one of the banks involved as a creditor and advising them regarding the liquidation, as soon as the Lexington office where Beshear was located discovered it, the atty was no longer able to represent the bank. No charges were ever filed against Beshear's law firm; they were, however, required to pay for the investigation. Fletcher, on the other hand, was indicted on illegal hiring practices as were many members of his administration. The day after they were indicted, Fletcher pardoned them all. Later, the Democratic AG dropped the charges against Fletcher. Always have wondered why.

Right now, Beshear has a comfortable lead but as expected, it is tightening a bit as the election draws near. A popular and (I hate to admit it) fairly good Repub Sec of State will most likely win but the Lexington Herald Leader speculated that Beshear's numbers could pull a victory for the Dems in that race. Still we are poised to win 5 of the 7 statewide races. Also heard, I think on DU, that McConnell is polling below 50%. That bastard is next.

Wish us luck in Kentucky!

second time that absolutely stunning ad against Fletcher. I don't remember the exact numbers, something like eighty-three indictments, fifty something misdemeanors and thirty three felonies. The exact numbers don't matter because the impact of the ad was awesome.

I found my mind clicking over with--if only ten percent of this shit is true, that man is a stone crook!
How the hell could he even consider running for office?

I know the back story, living in southern Illinois, and have been more than a little pissed, but had not been thinking about it much, recently.
Good on Beshear and good luck to you, my near neighbors!

Would you kindly enlighten me on this, from your post? I don unnastan.

"A popular and (I hate to admit it) fairly good Repub Sec of State will most likely win but the Lexington Herald Leader speculated that Beshear's numbers could pull a victory for the Dems in that race."

Thanks!

I was rushing a bit when I posted. The current Secretary of State (think I might have said AG...we should win the AG race), whose name escapes me at the moment, is a Republican and according to the Lexington Herald-Leader has done a decent job and they endorsed him. Now, that's certainly not enough for me but working at Democratic HQ in Lexington, most people concede he's done a good job. That said, we are still hoping to get the Dem candidate in but polling is not good. The Lexington Herald suggested that with Beshear's huge lead, he could pull the ticket along and perhaps the Dem Sec of State candidate might win on his coat tails. I doubt it but here's hoping. I have only been back in Kentucky for about 1 1/2 years after 10 years of playing in Miami the last 10 years with the Miami-Dade Dems...I thought corruption was bad there but I think Ernie Fletcher is holding his own! Amazing. I met Steve Beshear many years ago and have supported him since. He's a true Democrat...very liberal and that's why the Repubs brought Pat Boone in at the last minute to scare all the homophobes. These people are disgusting.

Gotta go...it's getting late.

I got the hint that this was the way it was going but it does no one any good to make a guess and an assumption when the detailed picture can be had.

but I'm a California Boy born and raised

this is great news