Published: September 11, 2008 07:12 pm      

Beshear trip mixes business, politics

As candidate, he criticized Fletcher for that practice

FRANKFORT — In 2007, gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear criticized incumbent Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher for combining official and political travel while using state resources. Beshear also promised Democrats would “take back the state Senate” but has since decried the “rank partisanship” in Frankfort.

But Tuesday, Governor Beshear handed out checks in Barren County and attended a regional economic development meeting, with Democratic state Senate candidate Steve Newberry at his side, and then attended a private fundraiser for Newberry.

“This is a very different situation,” said Jill Midkiff, Beshear’s deputy communications director. “The governor was traveling through that area making several announcements and attending an economic development summit. He was asked to attend the fundraiser while he was there, and he supports that candidate.”

Beshear declined to be interviewed, through Midkiff, citing a busy schedule after returning from a two-day swing through western Kentucky which began Tuesday and included the stops in Barren County.

Newberry, of Glasgow, is the CEO/president of Commonwealth Broadcasting and brother of Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry. He is opposed by Republican David Givens, an agribusiness owner from Greensburg in the 9th state Senate District. The race offers an opportunity for Democrats to pick up a Republican Senate seat because incumbent Republican Richie Sanders is retiring.

Newberry said his fundraiser was scheduled after Beshear’s public schedule was set.

“I worked around his schedule,” said Newberry.

That schedule included appearances at the Cave City Convention Center where he handed out Homeland Security Grant checks, and appearances in Glasgow at an alternative school, a lunch meeting at South Central Bank, an economic development summit at Akebono Brake, and at Boys and Girls Club where he announced a $65,000 grant. Newberry was present at all the Glasgow stops on Beshear’s schedule – and one which was not: a meeting at the Glasgow Country Club to discuss a state hospital for disabled patients in Glasgow and a highway loop around the city.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

Midkiff said Beshear was invited to the meeting by Glasgow Mayor Darrell Pickett. He brought acting Economic Development Secretary – and Executive Cabinet Secretary – Larry Hayes. Beshear recently appointed Hayes acting secretary following the resignation of John Hindman, a Fletcher appointee. The Economic Development Partnership is supposed to be a quasi-independent agency, established as a way to insulate economic development from politics. By naming Hayes acting secretary, however, Beshear at least temporarily brought its top official inside the governor’s office.

Midkiff said Hayes’ presence was specifically tied to the economic meeting and he attended none of the other events.

“There was nothing political about it,” Midkiff said.

Newberry, who once chaired the economic development board in Barren County, sat next to Beshear and Hayes. Givens showed up uninvited and found a video crew employed by Newberry setting up lights and filming.

“You’re going to see video footage from this turned into a television commercial,” Givens said.

Not so, said Newberry. He said nothing from the event will be used in his campaign spots.

Mark Riddle, Newberry’s media advisor, said his crew filmed commercials for Newberry that morning and afternoon and he offered to “get some footage for the governor” during the down time.

“We didn’t ask for it. That had nothing to do with us,” Midkiff said.

Riddle wouldn’t say who paid for the crew’s time and work during the economic summit.

“I think it’s inappropriate for the governor to come into town and politicize an economic summit,” Givens said.

That’s the second time he has criticized Beshear for using an economic development setting to praise Newberry. Recently, Beshear said Newberry helped secure the location of an electric car plant in Simpson County, in the 9th Senate District.

POLITICAL SUPPORTERS PRESENT

Also present at the summit were officials from other counties who support Newberry, such as Greensburg Mayor Lyle Cheatham and Metcalfe County Judge-Executive Greg Wilson. But Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer, a Republican, was invited and Newberry said other Republican officials from surrounding counties were invited but did not attend. Pickett is a registered Republican who supports Newberry.

Prominent Beshear and Newberry supporters were also at the bank luncheon, including former Finance Secretary L. Rogers Wells who served in the Wilkinson administration and held a Beshear fundraiser during the 2007 election. Road contractor Larry Glass also attended. Glass supported Fletcher in 2003 but switched sides in 2007 and contributed to Beshear. Both support Newberry.

Newberry said he arranged for Beshear to meet with representatives of the Temple Hill Lions Club which puts on the annual Barren County Fair and is seeking funding for the Temple Hill fairgrounds where it takes place. That took place in a private room at the alternative school. At least two members of the delegation wore Newberry for Senate T-shirts.

After the economic summit, Beshear toured the Boys and Girls Club and then went to the Glasgow Country Club.

According to Newberry, there he met with Dr. Phillip Bale, Mayor Pickett, Judge-Executive Greer and state Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, about the fate of the ICF State Hospital facility. The aging facility is in danger of being closed and Bell sought funding during the past General Assembly to renovate and keep it open but it was deleted from the final budget.

Newberry said they were later joined by local school officials, local hospital administrator Bill Kindred, and Glass, the road contractor, to discuss the Veterans’ Memorial Outer Loop, a four-lane outer loop around the city being constructed in stages by Glass’ company, Glass Construction.

Beshear and his Transportation Secretary, Joe Prather, recently announced a “Practical Solutions” program to cut road construction costs. One way that can be done is building two-lane rather than four-lane roads where feasible.

Newberry said the local officials asked Beshear to keep the project a four-lane highway. Beshear then went to Newberry’s fundraiser at the home of Glasgow businessman Patrick Gaunce.

“Any portion of the travel expenses that was personal will be reimbursed to the state,” Midkiff said.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He can be reached by e-mail at rellis@cnhi.com.