By Ronnie Ellis, CNHI
Dec. 30, 2009 — The Kentucky Association of Counties made a lot of mistakes and it got a lot of deserved bad publicity over the past few months. But it appears ready to do something right
KACo was exposed by the Lexington Herald Leader and state Auditor Crit Luallen for excesses by its staff and some board members for improper expenditures and behavior. But if the KACo board follows the recommendation of its search committee to employ Edward Hatchett as its new director, it will take a big step toward restoring its image and credibility.
Hatchett is a former state auditor and banking commissioner. He’s an attorney, a former banker, a businessman and a farmer. He knows the state and its county officials from his political campaigns and his days as auditor. He’s not part of the good old boy culture which plagued KACo. He’s as solidly honest, competent and straight as they come. Hatchett was once endorsed by the Courier Journal twice in one week for the same office. How many Kentucky politicians have that kind of reputation and stature?
Hatchett isn’t “Mr. Excitement,” but then KACo, with revelations staff and board members used the organization’s credit cards for lavish dining, escort services and strip clubs, has had more than its share of excitement. It needs competence, accountability, and moral credibility.
Ed Hatchett has them all. He is exactly the type of person the organization needs to restore its credibility.
•••
I’ve highlighted Gov. Steve Beshear’s poor poll numbers in this space before, and it’s only fair I point out they’ve improved. His favorability rating increased from 39 percent to 47 percent in last week’s SurveyUSA poll by WHAS-TV.
Now, less than 50 percent still isn’t good but an 8-point improvement isn’t bad either. He’s over 50 percent in western Kentucky and Louisville and his favorable rating improved in north central and eastern Kentucky – although it’s still a dismal 35 percent in eastern Kentucky.
It’s harder to explain why. Since the previous survey, Beshear lost a special state senate election; a major manufacturer decided not to re-locate to Kentucky; and he faces another major budget shortfall. Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit.
•••
Sometimes rumors are persistent enough to show up on the blogosphere. One out there now is that state Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, will forego running for re-election to the Senate and instead file for her old House seat.
“That’s just ridiculous,” Webb told me. “I love being a Senator and I’m out campaigning for re-election in my district every day. I’ve gotten a great reception.”
Webb said she will follow her usual practice and file after the holidays for re-election to the 18th District seat she won in a special election last August.
She thinks the rumors may have been started by Republicans who want to scare off any stiff competition for Jill York who won the House seat in a Dec. 8 special election. But they’re not coming from her, Webb insists.
“I don’t know why I’d do that after what I went through,” Webb said of her tough special election win. “I’ll file for the Senate after the first of the year.”
Republican Jack Ditty, the Bellefonte dermatologist who lost to Webb in August by less than 300 votes, has already filed to run for the seat again in 2010.
Finally, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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.
