Beshear rakes in $460,000 for re-election

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John Flavell

October 6, 2009

RONNIE ELLIS The McCreary County Record Tue Oct 06, 2009, 09:45 AM EDT

FRANFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear raised more than $460,000 for his re-election campaign in 2011 with just three fundraising events, all in September.

His new running mate, Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson hosted one on Sept. 22 which garnered $118,900; railroad company executive R.J. Corman hosted the second on Sept. 29 which raised $195,790; and Tennessee payday lender executive Garry McNabb hosted a fundraiser in Cookeville which produced $55,250.

“I am gratified by the breadth and depth of support our re-election efforts have garnered in such a short span of time,” Beshear said in a statement released by his campaign. “I think it’s a strong indication of the support for our efforts to reform the culture of Frankfort and move our state forward during the most trying economy in decades.”

One thing about the culture of gubernatorial politics in Kentucky hasn’t changed – at least 57 members of state government contributed to Beshear, though most were appointed members of his administration who might be expected to support him for re-election. Some of them are his communications director Jay Blanton, Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark, Chief of Staff Adam Edelen, both outgoing and incoming Deputy Chiefs of Staff and nine cabinet level appointees, including outgoing Transportation Secretary Joe Prather.

McNabb is CEO of the Tennessee Lottery and chief executive officer of Cash Express, a payday lender. Beshear has promised to support a statutory cap on interest rates for such payday lenders and he said last week that hasn’t changed after McNabb’s fundraiser.

In the last regular session, the General Assembly passed a bill which mandates such lenders compile and share with the state a data base on clients, but lawmakers resisted a cap such as other states have imposed, usually around the level of 35 percent or so.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, had sought such a cap in the 2008 session but was unable to get it passed. This year he agreed to drop the cap in exchange for the data base which can be used to help shape future legislation, possibly including an interest cap.

After administration officials, attorneys represented the largest number of contributors by occupation, many from Frost Brown and Todd and Stoll Keenan and Ogden. Several donors had connections to the horse industry which Beshear has said is in crisis as he pushes for passage of expanded gambling at the race tracks. He also received contributions from at least nine individuals employed by Almost Family, a health care company which serves senior citizens.

Beshear received maximum $1,000 contributions from lobbyists Bob Babbage and his wife, Laura, and John Y. Brown III. As previously reported, Republican Senator Tom Buford of Nicholasville and his wife, Carol, each gave $1,000.

Other prominent $1,000 donors included former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, Tracy and Carol Farmer, Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray, several family members and employees of the Ikerd Companies of Somerset, Matthew Thornton, CEO of Thornton Inc., L. Rogers Wells, former Wilkinson administration official and Glasgow businessman, U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth, and David Whitehouse of Whitehouse Riddle Strategic Solutions.

Beshear reported spending just over $61,000. He announced in July he is running for re-election in 2011 and named Abramson as his new running mate. His current Lieutenant Governor, Daniel Mongiardo, is running in May 2010 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

Audio tapes surfaced last week purportedly of Mongiardo criticizing Beshear for fundraising while Mongiardo is trying to raise money for the Senate race. Some have disputed the legitimacy of the tapes, saying they are “doctored” or “heavily edited” but Mongiardo has declined to deny it’s his voice making the statements.

Both Mongiardo and Beshear have downplayed the importance – and legitimacy – of the tapes.

In addition to Beshear, Democrats Gatewood Galbaith of Lexington and Otis Hensley of Wallins Creek in Harlan County have filed paperwork indicating they will run for governor in 2011.

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

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