Fletcher scandal frustrates Ky. GOP

28 Nov 2005 // Uneasy. Disappointed. Frustrated. Anxious.

Those are among words at least a dozen Northern Kentucky Republicans use privately and publicly to describe their feelings about the seven-month long scandal that has embroiled Gov. Ernie Fletcher, the first Republican chief executive in the commonwealth in 30 years.

"I think that most Republicans are anxious for it to be over," said Marcus Carey, GOP chairman in the 4th Congressional District Republican Party.

In May, Attorney General Greg Stumbo began investigating whether rank-and-file state jobs were being filled based on political affiliations rather than the merit of candidates, as the law requires.

Since then, 14 current and former members of Fletcher's administration have been indicted, most on misdemeanor violations of the Merit System law. In August, Fletcher pardoned the first nine who were indicted and said it covered any criminal activity in the administration that might be investigated by the grand jury.

Among those to be indicted and pardoned was former Kenton County Judge-Executive Dick Murgatroyd, who served as Fletcher's deputy chief of staff. He later was among nine indicted officials who Fletcher asked to resign.

Some Northern Kentucky Republicans say they are disappointed Fletcher's tenure has been marred by scandal after all the hard work by the GOP to get back the governor's mansion. Republicans last held the executive post in 1971, when Louie Nunn was governor.

One local Republican said privately it was disappointing to see that the governor who promised to clean up the mess in Frankfort hasn't done so.

Republican Boone County Commissioner Cathy Flaig said she wasn't disappointed with the governor but with Democrats who have used the investigation to trounce on the Republican Party.

"We need to be united," she said. "We don't need to be picking at each other."

Flaig and almost everyone else interviewed said they believe Fletcher was misguided by young, inexperienced people who were running his administration.

"They did not have the political and professional maturity that older folks in the business have," said Kevin Sell, a Campbell County Republican and coordinator of the local Associated Builders and Contractors Political Action Committee, which heavily supports Republicans.

Others have said the people who were politically savvy enough to get Fletcher elected were not as knowledgeable about running an administration.

"The reality is, once you begin to govern, sometimes things are a lot different from when you are running for office," said state Rep. Jon Draud, R-Edgewood.

Fletcher spokeswoman Jodi Whitaker said the governor admitted some members of the administration who were misguided or over-enthusiastic made mistakes.

"At this point we believe it's time to move on," Whitaker said.

While some say the administration mishandled the attorney general's investigation from the start, others note that the critical misstep was in not firing some of the indicted officials sooner.

One Republican said privately that Fletcher would've been better off if he had admitted mistakes upfront - much the way Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor did last week when he pleaded guilty to a DUI charge.