Pol Watchers

29th Senate District: Same race, new challenges

By Ryan Alessi
RALESSI@HERALD-LEADER.COM

Just 24 votes separated Sen. Johnny Ray Turner from challenger Eric Shane Hamilton in the 2004 Democratic primary for Eastern Kentucky's 29th Senate District.    

Now, Hamilton is back for a rematch. And a lot has changed in four years.

Since then, Turner -- the Senate Democratic caucus leader -- was implicated in a vote-buying scandal stemming from his 2000 election. He pleaded guilty in December 2006 to a misdemeanor and served a three-month sentence under home arrest.

Hamilton, meanwhile, traded in his industrial cleaning business to become a landlord. But after buying two apartment complexes in west Lexington, he's found himself dogged by city code enforcement officials.

So the two candidates, still slightly bruised from their last contest and the events in between, meet again in the May 20 primary to be decided by Democratic voters in Floyd, Knott, Breathitt and Letcher counties.

"I think the whole dynamics of the campaign are different now," Turner said. He insists that the vote-buying saga, which lasted for six years, isn't shading the race.

"On the campaign trail, it hasn't been an issue," Turner said. People know that he pleaded "guilty to a non-willful -- and I emphasize non-willful -- misdemeanor," he said.

He prefers to talk about his status as a party leader in the Senate, which helps him direct funds to the district. But when pressed, Turner doesn't point to any particular accomplishments.

Hamilton, however, said Turner's legal problems should and will factor into voters' decision. "He's got a lot more than the guilty plea. It seems that everyone associated with the campaign has gone to jail," Hamilton said.

Hamilton also is the nephew of former Democratic state Sen. Benny Ray Bailey of Hindman. It was Bailey whom Turner defeated in 2000 -- the same campaign that landed Turner in hot water.

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Alexander spends twice as much on 30th as Smith

Democrat Scott Alexander doubled the amount Republican Brandon Smith spent in last month's hotly contested and sometimes controversial special race for the 30th state Senate District in Eastern Kentucky, which Smith won.

Alexander, buoyed by fund-raising help from Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, had raised $162,000 during the first part of January and another $177,350 between Jan. 20 and March 11, according to new finance reports. Mongiardo, whose former seat was at stake in the race, also helped Alexander campaign in the district, which covers Perry, Bell, Leslie and Harlan counties.

Including more than $211,376 worth of in-kind help by the Kentucky Democratic Party, Alexander spent roughly $550,000 on the race. Smith, meanwhile, raised $150,145 in donations and received $122,611 worth of in-kind contributions from the Republican Party of Kentucky.

Despite the governor's office backing his opponent, Smith managed to secure enough of a vote cushion from Leslie and Bell counties to overcome a 1,200 vote deficit in Perry County.

Alexander's report arrived at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance over the weekend. The postmark revealed that it was mailed March 14 -- three days after the deadline. Generally, a candidate is fined $10 per day for deliquent reports, said Sarah Jackson, executive director of the Kentucky registry. Smith's report arrived on Thursday and was postmarked on March 11.

- Ryan Alessi

Two Democrats withdraw from legislatve elections

A potential challenger to Republican Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, withdrew his candidacy Monday, while the Democratic primary opponent to Rep. Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg also said he was dropping his bid.

Rand Marshall, a Democrat and city attorney for Sadieville, filed his papers to officially remove himself from the 17th state Senate district race on Monday.

Some of Gov. Steve Beshear's aides had encouraged Marshall to run. Beshear's deputy chief of staff Vince Gabbert even escorted Marshall to the secretary of state's office on the candidate filing deadline, Jan. 29, to pick up the official papers to put his name on the ballot.

Marshall would have faced Democrat Robert Powell of Georgetown in the May 20 Democratic primary. Powell now will take on Thayer in the November general election. But Thayer starts with a huge financial advantage with more than $130,000 already in the bank as of his last report in November.

Meanwhile, in Eastern Kentucky, Chuck Meade said he won't challenge Stumbo in the May 20 Democratic primary for the 95th District. Meade succeeded Stumbo for that position in 2004 after Stumbo became attorney general.

In a statement issued Monday to supporters, however, Meade said he had "consulted with my family and friends" and opted not to run. He said he had made up his mind to run last fall while Brandon Spencer, a Democrat who defeated Meade in 2006, was the incumbent. But now that Stumbo was in, "the complexion of the race changed dramatically," Meade's statement said.

Spencer resigned suddenly in December, and Stumbo, who was finishing his term as attorney general, easily received the Floyd County Democratic Party's support over Meade to be the nominee in a Feb. 5 special election.

"While I believe, and many of you have told me you believe, I could have won this race, but that it would have to be a very negative and divisive campaign," Meade said in his statement. "It would have cost a great deal of money to get my message to the people and would have caused more divisiveness in the Democratic Party in Floyd County and more hard feelings among our people."

Meade's statement then curiously went on to criticize state Sen. Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift, who is in a primary fight against Eric Shane Hamilton -- a rematch of the 2004 primary. Turner served three months home incarceration last year after pleading guilty to "non-willful" vote buying. 

With our state senator's campaign officials being convicted of violations of laws and being arrested for selling drugs, and even our senator confessing to law violation, I came to realize that our county and our people have suffered enough. What we don't need at this point is another negative and divisive campaign.

Turner and Stumbo have been long-time allies.

UPDATE 5:12 p.m. Turner, a long time high school teacher and coach, said Tuesday that he didn't know why Meade, a former student of his, felt compelled to say that in the statement.

"I always felt like we were friends. I don't understand where he's coming from," he said. "By him taking a shot at me, you'd think I was the one he was running against."

Danny Briscoe, Turner's campaign consultant, fired back at Meade, saying he's "a quitter and a loser and he ought to mind his own business."

- Ryan Alessi

Democratic Party says GOP Senate candidate erred

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Jennifer Moore filed a complaint with the Louisville Metro Government Ethics Commission against Doug Hawkins, a metro councilman who is running for state Senate.

Moore has complained that Hawkins has on his official council Web site a link to his Senate campaign page, www.doughawkins.com. Hawkins, the 25th District councilman, is running against Democratic Sen. Perry Clark of Louisville.

- Ryan Alessi

Democrats win both House seats, concede 30th

Although dealt a political blow in the Eastern Kentucky state Senate race, Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Jennifer Moore trumpeted the results in two House races as  signals that the party is "well on our way to turning the Bluegrass State blue once again."

Former attorney general and longtime Democratic House majority leader Greg Stumbo won his old seat back, defeating Republican Larry D. Brown by an unofficial vote total of 3,591 to 801 in the heavily Democratic 95th House District that covers most of Floyd County.

"His constituents know he will bring extensive knowledge and strong leadership to his District and to the legislature," Moore said of Stumbo.

Meanwhile, Will Coursey, a Symsonia banker and former aide to House Speaker Jody Richards, won the open 6th House District seat in western Kentucky over Republican Marvin Wilson, an Eddyville lawyer. Coursey will replace longtime Democratic Rep. J.R. Gray, whom Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear hired in December as his labor commissioner. Coursey was leading 5,029 votes to Wilson's 2,537 in Marshall and the district's part of McCracken counties. UPDATE at 9:57 p.m.: Lyon County's precincts showed Coursey winning 1,101 to 961 for Wilson, giving Coursey an overall win of 6,130 to 3,498.

Of Coursey's win, Moore's statement said:

"Having served for five years as Executive Assistant to House Speaker Jody Richards, Representative-elect Coursey is familiar with the legislative process and able to begin the hard work of governing on day one of his tenure. He ran a great race as is evidenced by his two-to-one victory."

Added Richards, the Democratic House Speaker in a separate statement: "There aren’t two people who could represent their districts better.”

But the biggest race of the night remained the 30th Senate District. Democrat Scott Alexander, a former state representative from Hazard, lost the race to Republican Rep. Brandon Smith of Hazard, despite strong efforts by Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo on Alexander's behalf.

That district -- composed of Bell, Harlan, Leslie and Perry counties -- also has an overwhelming 2-1 advantage in registered Democrats with 43,708 compared to 26,882 Republicans and 1,677 "others."

Smith won Bell County, which is evenly split in registration, by about 800 votes. Smith won Leslie County, which has nearly an 8-1 advantage for Republicans, by another 800 votes. And Smith and Alexander essentially split the votes in Harlan County, with Alexander winning by 72 votes.

Alexander won in Perry County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 16,441 to 4,175, by about 1,150 votes, according to unofficial results pending the final count of the last precinct.

That gave Smith a 401 vote win overall.

Moore, the Democratic Party chairman, downplayed the defeat in the Senate district.

"Scott Alexander fought a tough race and rallied Democratic voters in Bell, Leslie, Harlan and Perry counties to turn out in record numbers. We can all be proud of Scott's performance in this race," Moore said.

Smith, speaking to reporters in his House office in the Capitol Annex, complimented Alexander for his work ethic in the race. "One thing he's shown me is he's not a quitter," Smith said. "I admire him."

- Ryan Alessi

Smith wins 30th District, deals Beshear a setback

Republican Brandon Smith captured the open state Senate seat in Eastern Kentucky in a raucous, politically charged race that commanded the attention of key party leaders and is rife with implications in Frankfort.

Smith, a state representative from Hazard, defeated former Democratic Rep. Scott Alexander of Hazard by 401 votes, according to unofficial results. It was the third time in eight years Smith beat Alexander in elections. 

Smith’s win — a pick-up for Republicans in a district with an overwhelming majority of Democrats — comes as Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear attempts to marshal support for a controversial proposal to allow casino gambling in Kentucky, an issue opposed by most Republicans senators and Smith.

And it puts the chamber further out of reach of Democrats. Republicans will control the Senate 22 to 15, with one independent.

In addition to the political intrigue surrounding the race, the 30th Senate District —  covering Bell, Harlan, Perry and Leslie counties — produced allegations of voter fraud Tuesday. The Kentucky State Police and attorney general’s office both confirmed separate investigations.

“There was an allegation that either someone was buying votes or trading beer for votes in Perry County. We’re looking into that allegation,” said Lt. Phil Crumpton, spokesman for the state police. He said he couldn’t confirm whether arrests were made.

And Becky Blevins, the Bell County clerk, said she had to call police after an unidentified operative entered polling locations posing as a clerk’s office official to review Democratic voter rolls to see who had voted and who hadn’t. 

Smith will replace Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo for the remainder of the term, which ends 2010. The seat was the marquee prize on a special election day that saw two Democrats, including former House Democratic majority leader Greg Stumbo, win open state House seats.

But the Senate seat drew the most attention as Mongiardo feverishly campaigned with Alexander and Beshear made several trips to headline Alexander campaign rallies and raise funds.

Smith said he had no hard feelings toward Beshear and is “glad the governor knows how to get to Hazard.”

“I knew he was going to wade into the battle. I was surprised he waded as deep as he did,” Smith said of Beshear. “I’m OK with that. We survived it.”

Smith, whom Republican leaders will appoint to a coveted seat on the Senate budget committee, complimented Alexander on the race and said he hopes to work with Beshear for the district, adding that he expects he’ll agree with the administration on many issues.

The Democratic Party nomination process also may have been a factor in the race, as former Rep. Roger Noe of Harlan County openly complained that Beshear and Mongiardo “fixed” it for Alexander, an allegation the administration has denied. 

Meanwhile, Republican Senate President David Williams stumped for Smith and helped him raise money in Frankfort for the race. But Smith’s biggest endorsement came from U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset.

Casino gambling emerged as a key issue in the race with Smith saying Alexander would be a ‘Yes’ vote on Beshear’s plan and Alexander responding that he wants to give voters the chance to approve or turn down the proposal on the ballot.

Smith’s opposition to casinos bolsters Williams blockade of Beshear’s constitutional amendment, which needs 23 votes to pass the chamber.

Even before the election, at least one Democrat was wavering on supporting casinos.
State Sen. Ray Jones, D-Pikeville, said he wants to see the details of the bill when Beshear’s administration rolls it out as early as the end of this week. But he said his background as the grandson of a Baptist preacher makes it difficult to back a casino bill.

“The Baptist in me causes me reservations,” Jones said. “It’s hard to overcome.”

- Ryan Alessi

UPDATED: Unofficial totals show Smith won by 401

Republican Rep. Brandon Smith won the 30th state Senate District by 401 votes in a special election race that turned out 28 percent of voters in Bell, Leslie, Harlan and Perry counties.

Becky Bevins, Bell County clerk, called in with totals from Bell County:
Republican Brandon Smith 2,765 votes
Democrat Scott Alexander 1,912 votes

UPDATE: Leslie County is up on the Board of Elections Web site:
Republican Brandon Smith 1,823
Democrat Scott Alexander 1,034

That puts Smith up by 1,642 votes with Harlan and Perry County still to go.

UPDATE: Harlan County reported:

Smith 2,732
Alexander 2,804

UPDATE: Perry County reported at 9:30 p.m.:
Smith 3,089
Alexander 4,258

That gives Smith a 401 vote victory with 10,409 to Alexander's 10,008.

 

UPDATE: Smith has called an 8:15 p.m. press conference in Frankfort to declare victory.

Harlan and Perry counties still have one precinct each left to report totals, which is holding up the complete numbers.

- Ryan Alessi

Allegations of vote buying fly in 30th District race

SPECIAL ELECTION TURNOUT ESTIMATED AT NEAR 20 PERCENT

Investigators with the Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Bureau of Investigation are looking into allegations of vote buying in Perry County in the special election for the open 30th state Senate district. 

"There was an allegation that either someone was buying votes or trading beer for votes in Perry County. We’re looking into that allegation," said Lt. Phil Crumpton, spokesman for the state police. He said he could not confirm whether any arrests had been made.

Allison Gardner Martin, spokeswoman for Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, said the election fraud hotline received two "complaints of irregular activity going on in Perry County" and that Kentucky Bureau of Investigation officials are looking into those tips.

But she said because investigators only started looking into the complaints Tuesday afternoon, "it would be premature to talk about the specifics."

Democrat Scott Alexander, a former state representative from Hazard, is facing Republican state Rep. Brandon Smith of Hazard in the race to replace Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo in the state Senate district that covers Bell, Harlan, Leslie and Perry counties.

Perry County Clerk Haven King said he also received two complaints of "vote buying" and referred them to the Board of Elections and state police. It remains unclear whether those are the same allegations being investigated by the attorney general's office.

Meanwhile, Leslie County Clerk James Lewis said his office received one complaint of a supporter of Alexander's "leaning out of his car yelling to vote for his candidate" at people going to the polls in the Wooton Precinct. The man was within 300 feet of the voting precinct, which is against state electioneering laws but was gone by the time authorities arrived, Lewis said.

On a 70-degree February day, turnout is likely to reach 20 percent in the four-county district, the clerks reported. Here are early estimates through the first six to seven hours of voting:

• Leslie County: 15-20 percent, estimated Lewis
• Harlan County: about 20 percent with heavier turnout coming from the Harlan area and lighter participation in the Tri-Cities area of Benham, Lynch and Cumberland in the northeast part of the county, said Clerk Wanda Clem
• Bell County: around 15 percent "but hoping for 20 percent," said Clerk Becky Blevins
• Perry County: as high as 23 percent turnout in the district's largest and most heavily Democratic district, said King

The Board of Elections will post unofficial results later tonight. Stay tuned for updates.

- Ryan Alessi

Senate race often more about Frankfort than 30th District

By Ryan Alessi
RALESSI@HERALD-LEADER.COM

FRANKFORT -- Tuesday's special election for the 30th state Senate District has, at many times, had more to do with Frankfort than with the four Eastern Kentucky counties it covers.

Both Republican and Democratic leaders in the state Capitol have campaigned ferociously for the candidate of their respective party in the district that covers Perry, Bell, Harlan and Leslie counties.

Conversely, those same Frankfort leaders -- Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and Republican Senate President David Williams --have become unwilling subjects of pointed advertisements by the opposite parties.

It is the highest-profile of three state legislative seats that will be filled in the special election, which elsewhere in the country will be known as Super Tuesday.

At stake in the 30th District race is a key Senate seat that both parties have seized upon as a steppingstone toward ultimate control of the upper chamber. The Senate is the main base of Republicans' power in Frankfort, as they hold a 21-15 seat advantage over Democrats, with one independent.

"The theme on the Republican side is retaining the control of the Senate, and the theme among the Democrats is trying to take over the Senate eventually," said Republican Rep. Tim Couch of Hyden. "Frankfort has played a whole lot into the race."

So the Frankfort-based political leaders, Beshear and Williams, are waging their power struggle using the special election candidates, former Democratic state Rep. Scott Alexander of Hazard and current Rep. Brandon Smith, a Republican from Hazard.

Both sides are going all in.

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Alexander targets Williams in TV ad

In his bid to represent the 30th Senate District, Democrat Scott Alexander is running a negative TV ad that focuses heavily on Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville.

The ad repeatedly shows Williams saying that Gov. Steve Beshear's first trip "out of the state" will be to Bell and Harlan County.

"David Williams is desperately clinging to power," says a male voice. "To keep it, he needs Brandon Smith."

UPDATE: Williams said he "muffled" a word during the interview and had meant to say "out in the state."

"Obviously I represent Whitley County, which is contiguous" to the 30th Senate District, he said. "What they're trying to do is demonize me."

The entire Jan. 14 interview with Williams, which followed Beshear's State of the Commonwealth speech, can be seen on KET.

Voters in Perry, Bell, Harlan and Leslie will choose between Alexander and Smith, a Republican state representative, on Tuesday.

Here's the ad.

(Hat Tip: The Rural Democrat)

- John Stamper