Steve Beshear/Jerry Abramson Re-Election Campaign Raises $460,390.00, Republican State Senator Tom Bufford And Wife Among Contributors!
Republican Sen. Buford gives to Beshear
By Tom Lofton
Read the story here.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear raised $460,390 for his 2011 re-election campaign in September, including $2,000 from Republican state Sen. Tom Buford and Buford's wife.
Advertisement
Beshear announced last summer he would seek re-election in 2011 with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate. And late Friday, the slate filed its first campaign finance report.
The figures reflect the power of incumbency in raising money for re-election, while possible challengers – Democrat or Republican – have yet to announce intentions to oppose Beshear.
The report listed contributions from 59 state employees – mostly top officials of the Beshear administration -- totaling $56,250, plus eight contributions of Louisville Metro Government officials totaling $6,500. Givers also included attorneys, engineers and architects who hold state contracts; officials of businesses regulated by the state; and people appointed by Beshear to state boards and commissions.
As of Wednesday, the campaign had spent $61,283, leaving it with $399,107 on hand, the report said.
“We just started raising money on Sept. 22, so I think we've done pretty good so far,” said Chad Aull, political director of the Beshear campaign. “We're particularly proud of the support of Sen. Tom Buford.”
Buford, of Nicholasville, is the only state legislator of either party listed as a contributor to the Beshear campaign. He and his wife each gave the maximum $1,000 contribution.
“I wanted him to remember us here, as he has the ability to transfer some funds through grants,” Buford said in an interview Saturday of why he made the contribution. “I felt as though I could maybe build up a little interest with him to keep an eye on Jessamine County when I make a request.”
The contribution comes as Democrats are making gains in the Republican-controlled Senate. This summer Beshear appointed Republican Sen. Charlie Borders to the Public Service Commission, and Democratic state Rep. Robin Webb won the special election to fill the vacancy.
That left the GOP with a 20-17 majority in the Senate with one independent, and some Republican senators have expressed concern that Beshear may appoint Senate Republican Leader Dan Kelly of Springfield to a vacant circuit judgeship, opening the possibility of Democrats gaining another seat.
Buford, however, said despite the contribution to the Democratic governor, he strongly supports Republican Senate President David Williams' efforts to retain and increase the GOP Senate majority. Buford said the possibility he would switch parties “is not in the cards, not a possibility.”
Kentucky Republican Chairman Steve Robertson said Buford's contribution “absolutely does not reflect the feelings of the Republican Party toward the record of the Beshear administration.” Robertson said Beshear's early fundraising lead will not pre-empt strong Republican candidates from entering the race.
Other $1,000 contributors to Beshear's campaign included Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of the 3rd District, former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, and Beshear’s 2007 campaign chairman Tracy Farmer.
Farmer, a prominent thoroughbred owner who was appointed by Beshear to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, was one of only about 15 people in the horse industry listed as contributors to Beshear, who advocates the industry priority of legalizing video slot machines at race tracks.
Contributors from Tennessee gave about $55,000 at a Sept. 25 fundraiser hosted by Garry McNabb in Cookeville, Tenn. McNabb is chief executive officer of Cash Express, a payday lending company with more than 100 outlets in Kentucky.
Attorneys are well represented on the contributors' list. Among them are some with Frost Brown Todd of Louisville, who combined to contribute $10,000.
Family and employees of Somerset businessman Frank Ikerd combined to give at least $10,000. Aull said Ikerd is a coal operator and friend of Beshear who co-hosted a fundraiser in Jessamine County.
Aull said such contributors do not get special consideration or access from the Beshear administration. “And we made sure there were no conflicts of interest in any of the contributions,” he said.
Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136.
By Tom Lofton
Read the story here.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear raised $460,390 for his 2011 re-election campaign in September, including $2,000 from Republican state Sen. Tom Buford and Buford's wife.
Advertisement
Beshear announced last summer he would seek re-election in 2011 with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as his running mate. And late Friday, the slate filed its first campaign finance report.
The figures reflect the power of incumbency in raising money for re-election, while possible challengers – Democrat or Republican – have yet to announce intentions to oppose Beshear.
The report listed contributions from 59 state employees – mostly top officials of the Beshear administration -- totaling $56,250, plus eight contributions of Louisville Metro Government officials totaling $6,500. Givers also included attorneys, engineers and architects who hold state contracts; officials of businesses regulated by the state; and people appointed by Beshear to state boards and commissions.
As of Wednesday, the campaign had spent $61,283, leaving it with $399,107 on hand, the report said.
“We just started raising money on Sept. 22, so I think we've done pretty good so far,” said Chad Aull, political director of the Beshear campaign. “We're particularly proud of the support of Sen. Tom Buford.”
Buford, of Nicholasville, is the only state legislator of either party listed as a contributor to the Beshear campaign. He and his wife each gave the maximum $1,000 contribution.
“I wanted him to remember us here, as he has the ability to transfer some funds through grants,” Buford said in an interview Saturday of why he made the contribution. “I felt as though I could maybe build up a little interest with him to keep an eye on Jessamine County when I make a request.”
The contribution comes as Democrats are making gains in the Republican-controlled Senate. This summer Beshear appointed Republican Sen. Charlie Borders to the Public Service Commission, and Democratic state Rep. Robin Webb won the special election to fill the vacancy.
That left the GOP with a 20-17 majority in the Senate with one independent, and some Republican senators have expressed concern that Beshear may appoint Senate Republican Leader Dan Kelly of Springfield to a vacant circuit judgeship, opening the possibility of Democrats gaining another seat.
Buford, however, said despite the contribution to the Democratic governor, he strongly supports Republican Senate President David Williams' efforts to retain and increase the GOP Senate majority. Buford said the possibility he would switch parties “is not in the cards, not a possibility.”
Kentucky Republican Chairman Steve Robertson said Buford's contribution “absolutely does not reflect the feelings of the Republican Party toward the record of the Beshear administration.” Robertson said Beshear's early fundraising lead will not pre-empt strong Republican candidates from entering the race.
Other $1,000 contributors to Beshear's campaign included Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of the 3rd District, former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, and Beshear’s 2007 campaign chairman Tracy Farmer.
Farmer, a prominent thoroughbred owner who was appointed by Beshear to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, was one of only about 15 people in the horse industry listed as contributors to Beshear, who advocates the industry priority of legalizing video slot machines at race tracks.
Contributors from Tennessee gave about $55,000 at a Sept. 25 fundraiser hosted by Garry McNabb in Cookeville, Tenn. McNabb is chief executive officer of Cash Express, a payday lending company with more than 100 outlets in Kentucky.
Attorneys are well represented on the contributors' list. Among them are some with Frost Brown Todd of Louisville, who combined to contribute $10,000.
Family and employees of Somerset businessman Frank Ikerd combined to give at least $10,000. Aull said Ikerd is a coal operator and friend of Beshear who co-hosted a fundraiser in Jessamine County.
Aull said such contributors do not get special consideration or access from the Beshear administration. “And we made sure there were no conflicts of interest in any of the contributions,” he said.
Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136.
Labels: Democratism, Kentucky politics, Republicanism
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 3:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home