Northup to headline fund-raiser for Erwin Roberts

Former congresswoman Anne Northup of Louisville will be a "special guest" at a Sept. 17th fund-raiser for Republican Erwin Roberts, who is seeking the congressional seat Northup lost to Democrat John Yarmuth in 2006.

The event, hosted by Scott and Lorie Cox, marks the first public political action taken by Northup since she lost a bruising primary race in May against Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Northup has not publicly spoken about Fletcher since the election, although she sent a "positive letter" to the governor that was read at a Republican unity rally.

Roberts, who served as Secretary of the Personnel Cabinet under Fletcher, endorsed Northup in the governor's race.

Roberts was named an unindicted co-conspirator during the lengthy investigation of the Fletcher administration's hiring practices. The investigation led to 15 indictments of current or former state officials, including Fletcher.

A settlement that dismissed the charges against Fletcher nullified the findings of an internal review conducted by Roberts, who found that his cabinet didn't make any improper hirings.

Roberts, also a former federal prosecutor, is now an attorney in Louisville.

- John Stamper