Staff report
FRANKFORT — Barren County native Edward B. Hatchett is being recommended by a search committee to be the next executive director of the Kentucky Association of Counties.
The KACo Board of Directors will consider the committee’s recommendation at its next meeting Monday at 1 p.m.
Mike Foster, immediate past president of the KACo board and chair of the search committee calls Hatchett the right person for KACo’s future.
“Ed Hatchett will be submitted to the Board of Directors with the enthusiastic support of the search committee,” says Foster. “We have found the right person to continue KACo’s outstanding record of service to our members and the right person to fully implement the comprehensive management control policies passed by the Board this summer.”
Rick Smith, who succeeded Foster as president of the KACo board and also served on the search committee agrees with Foster’s assessment. “Ed was selected because we felt he is best qualified from a number of outstanding candidates to provide the leadership necessary to earn back the trust of Kentucky taxpayers and build on our strong record of service to our members,” says Smith.
Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer was unaware Wednesday of the recommendation, but spoke favorably of Hatchett.
“I think Ed Hatchett would be as honest as the day is long,” she said. “He’s always been a good guy as far as I am concerned.”
Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed, who serves on KACo’s full board of directors, was aware of the recommendation, but said the board has yet to meet to make a final decision.
“All four candidates were good. Right now I’m just waiting to hear why they selected him and what the other three nominees’ situations were,” he said.
Hatchett is managing partner and counsel for Blue Spring Creek, LLC a family partnership in Glasgow that supervises a 900-acre farming operation, manages commercial and residential real estate and a diversified portfolio of financial investments.
Hatchett is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law and has practiced since 1977.
Hatchett was elected Auditor of Public Accounts in Kentucky in 1995 and re-elected in 2003. As state auditor he managed 150 employees and a $10 million annual budget.
From 1988 to 1994 Hatchett was Kentucky Commissioner of Financial Institutions, a 90-employee regulatory agency with an $8 million annual budget. Prior to that position he served as state securities administrator from 1991 to 1994. rom 1977 to 1988 he was vice president, trust and investment officer and secretary of New Farmers National Bank of Glasgow.
He began his career in banking as assistant general counsel in the Kentucky Department of Banking and Securities.
Hatchett is a graduate of Centre College; the National Graduate Trust School of Northwestern University and the American Bankers Association; and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, the University of Delaware and the American Bankers Association.
