FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday there’s nothing wrong with his appearing with a state Senate candidate while distributing state and federal grants for local projects.
Last Thursday, Democratic candidate Robin Webb, who is running in a special election for the 18th Senate District, appeared with Beshear while he handed out grants in Greenup, Lewis and Mason counties, all in the 18th District.
Webb, currently a member of the House, represents Carter and Lewis counties, and it’s not unusual for state representatives of either party to come along when the governor comes to down bearing gifts.
But Republicans have criticized Beshear for using state resources to boost Webb’s candidacy against Republican Dr. Jack Ditty of Bellefonte in Greenup County and Independent Guy E. Gibbons Jr. of Argillite in Greenup County. On Monday, First Lady Jane Beshear announced a $1.3 million for horse camping sites at Carter County Caves State Resort Park, appearing with Webb at the state park.
“That’s part of a push on adventure tourism that’s been planned for some time and Carter Caves is one of the areas that can really benefit from that,” Gov. Beshear said Monday. The First Lady has been a proponent of adventure tourism to boost Kentucky’s economy, especially in eastern Kentucky.
Beshear said he did nothing differently last week in the 18th District than he or other governors routinely do across the state.
“These kinds of projects and grants have been ongoing since I became governor,” Beshear said. “On Wednesday we were in western Kentucky in several places with water and sewer project announcements and other types of announcements. We were in eastern Kentucky the next day. This is an ongoing effort by my administration to improve the quality of life for our people.”
Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson was less sanguine.
“We all know what it is,” Robertson said of Beshear’s appearances with Webb. “This governor is looking for ways to use taxpayer dollars to create earned media for a candidate.”
Roberson said Beshear should make public a detailed account of his and the First Lady’s travel on behalf of Webb and Webb’s campaign should reimburse the state.
The race in the six northeastern Kentucky counties could affect the balance of power in the state Senate which is now controlled by Republicans 20-16-1 and might get Beshear closer to passage of a key legislative wish – expanded gambling at horse tracks in the form of video lottery terminals.
Two days before Beshear’s visit, the Republican Leader of the U.S. Senate – Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell – toured parts of the district with Ditty. It’s not a routine thing for the country’s highest elected Republican to campaign in a state Senate district.
Beshear has been criticized in the past for using state trips to boost Senate campaigns of Democratic candidates in a special election in the 30th District and a regular election in the 9th District last year. Republicans won both races. And his predecessor, Gov. Ernie Fletcher, was criticized for arranging state travel to coincide with scheduled fundraising events.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
State News
Beshear defends appearances with Webb
Republicans charge it's misuse of public funds
- State News
-
-
ELLIS UPDATE: Lawmakers closer on new district mapping
Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Thursday that lawmakers in the Republican Senate and Democratic House are close to an agreement on re-drawing the congressional district map.
-
UK, UL leaders: Cuts are hurting higher ed
The presidents of the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville told a legislative panel that they will keep working to achieve the goals of higher education reform passed in 1997 in spite of on-going budget cuts. But they made it clear it won’t be easy.
-
Lawmakers closer on new district mapping
Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Thursday that lawmakers in the Republican Senate and Democratic House are close to an agreement on re-drawing the congressional district map.
-
Stumbo files anti-pill mill bill
Under provisions of a bill filed Thursday in the General Assembly, pain clinics would have to be owned by licensed health care practitioners and any health care professional who prescribes controlled substances would have to register with and utilize the state’s electronic tracking system.
-
Jill York files to run against Rocky Adkins
The new legislative district maps prompted some tough decisions by some key lawmakers – even before the new map and Tuesday’s filing deadline were cast into doubt by a Franklin Circuit Court restraining order.
-
Filing deadline extended for congressional races
While attorneys argued before a judge about the constitutionality of the state legislative redistricting plan, the General Assembly has extended the filing deadline for congressional races — because lawmakers can’t agree on a map for congressional districts.
-
GOP files suit over new state districts
Three Republican lawmakers and two private citizens filed suit Thursday in Franklin Circuit Court to have the House legislative redistricting plan declared unconstitutional.
-
Committee reviews pill mill bill
Just one day after state and federal law enforcement officials raided a Paintsville pain clinic for the second time in a year, a Senate committee Thursday began reviewing a bill to regulate such clinics.
-
Special election is Feb. 7 for Comer’s seat
The Feb. 7 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Rep. James Comer, who was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in November, will be conducted according to the previous district lines as they existed before the General Assembly re-drew the boundaries.
-
Beshear tries to get gambling in line
Republican Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown said Wednesday he is “strongly leaning toward sponsoring” Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposal for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling.
- More State News Headlines
-
ELLIS UPDATE: Lawmakers closer on new district mapping
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
