Message from the Chairman

I received the following email this morning. The content of this email or a similar communication from Jerry Lundergan doesn’t appear to be on the Kentucky Democratic Party web site.

You read the email and see if you can tell who Jerry would like to see in the Governor’s mansion.

Please note: This column will be sent to you periodically from the desk of Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan as a way to keep you informed of the KDP point of view on issues facing Kentucky and its citizens.

Chairman’s Corner 8/30/06
Chairman Jerry Lundergan
The Kentucky Democratic Party
P.O. Box 694
Frankfort, Ky. 40602

Dear Friend:

I want to personally let you know how proud I am of our Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo. Thanks to the hard work of the AG and his staff, Governor Ernie Fletcher agreed to a plea bargain last Thursday, putting to rest an investigation which might have ended a year ago if only the governor and his staff had cooperated fully.

Negotiations began early last week, after members of the governor’s staff approached Attorney General Stumbo about a deal. This move has been widely considered the governor’s last-ditch effort before throwing in the proverbial towel and stepping down from his re-election bid.

After meeting for several days, attorneys for the two parties were able to reach a deal, bringing to an end the merit system investigation that has monopolized the attention of the governor and his administration for 15 months.

Judge David Melcher’s August 11 ruling in the governor’s case, made it clear Governor Fletcher would never stand trial, making this plea bargain even more necessary. Negotiations were not easy in light of the fact the governor could pardon himself at any time and would not have had to face any consequences that may have resulted from the findings of this investigation.

In the end, the governor:
Admitted illegal acts had been committed by his administration with regard to personnel actions within the merit system.
Accepted responsibility for those acts.
Forced the resignations of all four members he appointed to the Personnel Board and will replace them with people recommended to him by General Stumbo.
Recognized the Attorney General’s investigation and prosecution of this matter were necessary and proper and have benefited the Commonwealth.

I would like to echo what Attorney General Stumbo said in a press conference announcing the plea bargain last week – this is a new day for Kentucky, its employees and its citizens!

The benefits to Kentuckians are many. State merit employees will now be assured of a fair hearing before the Personnel Board. The governor and his staff can now try to salvage the remaining months of this administration and begin to build policy that will hopefully benefit Kentucky families. Taxpayer dollars will no longer be spent on high-priced private attorneys hired by Governor Fletcher for his defense.

Possibly the most important accomplishment of this settlement is that it has proven that no one is above prosecution under the law in this state.

The Kentucky Democratic Party is very proud of the work of our highest elected official in holding the governor of this state to a high ethical and legal standard. We, as well as the citizens of this state, owe Attorney General Greg Stumbo and his staff a debt of gratitude.

Sincerely,
Jerry Lundergan
Chairman, KDP

For more information contact: Jerry Lundergan at 502-695-4828 office or 859-229-6515 cell; KDP Communications Director Allison Haley at 502-695-4828 or 502-319-4997 cell.

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Bumper Stickers

Living in on the Southside of Lexington, Kentucky for the last several years I have been subjected to the following bumper sticker almost every time I stop for a traffic light.










More recently this one has been popping up in case anyone questioned who was responsible for the War in Iraq and the lousy economy.















But the times they are a changing.

I’ve now seen this bumper sticker a number of times.






And just saw this one for the first time.










Political commentary is where you find it.