Free Republic

Republicans see chance for big inroad By Bill Estep HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER FRANKFORT - Buoyed by winning the governor's race, Republicans have recruited candidates from across the state to try to make gains in the Kentucky House of Representatives this year. Democrats, however, vowed they would hold their wide edge in the House and try to pick up seats in the Senate, where Republicans now lead 22 to 16. Yesterday was the deadline to file for House and Senate seats, bringing the usual last-minute flurry of candidate entries and setting up some races that could be hotly contested. Republicans hope...

Fletcher's brother's wife hired at cabinet MOVE REQUIRES WAIVER TO HIRING FREEZE By John Cheves HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER FRANKFORT - Gov. Ernie Fletcher's sister-in-law reports to work Wednesday as a political appointee at the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet. The move smacks of nepotism and hypocrisy, a representative of state employees said. The appointment of Rachel Fletcher, 60, to be one of three executive secretaries to LaJuana Wilcher, the cabinet's secretary, will require a waiver in the state-wide hiring freeze Fletcher ordered shortly after he took office. The $25,000-a-year job is "considered critical" though, so it should be filled, said...