Posted on 11/05/2003 3:15:22 AM PST by mgist
Republican Fletcher Elected Ky. Governor
NewsMax.com Wires Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Throughout his campaign for governor, GOP Rep. Ernie Fletcher vowed to "clean up the mess in Frankfort." Now he gets the chance to follow through on that promise.
Fletcher easily defeated state Attorney General Ben Chandler on Tuesday, ending the Democrats' 32-year hold on the Kentucky governor's office.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Fletcher had 593,508 votes, or 55 percent, and Chandler had 484,938 or 45 percent.
He will replace term-limited Gov. Paul Patton, who was dogged by scandals including an extramarital affair and an assortment of investigations of the state's highway agency.
Although Chandler was no ally of Patton and sought to convince voters they could have reform without changing parties, the fallout from the scandals hung over the campaign like a cloud.
"Republicans have very handily hung that noose around every Democrat's neck," said Susan Westrom, state Democratic chairwoman.
A former fighter pilot, Fletcher compared the feeling of victory to flying in an Air Force jet and seeing the northern lights. "It just doesn't get any better than this," he said.
Fletcher got a congratulatory call from President Bush, who came to Kentucky to campaign for Fletcher and help him raise money.
Republican Chairwoman Ellen Williams said the Bush factor could not be discounted. She said "Kentucky loves George Bush" and the president's trips to the state in the last month boosted Fletcher enormously.
Williams said Bush was especially effective in western Kentucky, an area deemed crucial by both campaigns. The region is largely Democratic by registration but is deeply conservative and regularly sends Republicans to Congress.
Bush "lit that district on fire," Williams said. "The people in that part of the state are in line with Bush's conservative values."
After conceding defeat Tuesday night, Chandler called on other Democrats to help Fletcher "with the difficult task of leading this great state."
The state is facing a $262 million shortfall in the current fiscal year, and Patton said he would leave its solution to his successor and the General Assembly.
Kentucky Republicans, who had not won a constitutional state office since 1967, won two other statewide offices Tuesday -- secretary of state and commissioner of agriculture. The top Democratic officeholder will be Greg Stumbo, elected attorney general in a three-man race that focused largely on personal issues.
Interesting observation. Mrs. Kerr is our District Senator (the area where we live in Lexington) and she certainly has the potential to go for Fletcher's vacated spot. I'll be interested to see whether she shows enthusiasm for running.
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