Contributions in Roach/Noble race clearly divided
By Brandon Ortiz
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Trial lawyers and "tort reform" supporters, as well as friends and foes of the Fletcher administration, have clearly chosen sides in the state Supreme Court race pitting Justice John Roach against Judge Mary Noble, a computer analysis of campaign finance data shows.
The 5th Supreme Court District race, which covers Fayette and 10 other counties, is poised to become the most expensive judicial race ever in Central Kentucky.
Since May 17, Noble has raised $19,500 from trial lawyers, compared to Roach's $2,200. Roach has more support from corporate attorneys, business interests and the health care and insurance industries.
A Herald-Leader review of itemized campaign contributions also shows a clear partisan divide: At least 63.8 percent of Noble's financial support came from registered Democrats. Roach's support is more bipartisan, but 63.5 percent of his contributions came from donors to Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher's gubernatorial campaigns.
Supreme Court candidates run on non-partisan ballots, but Roach is a registered Republican and Noble is a Democrat.
The candidates have raised a combined $569,276.78 -- about $7,000 less than a record-setting 2003 Court of Appeals election.
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