Published: February 08, 2008 06:34 am         

Column: Election loss hurts Beshear

May weaken chances for gambling amendment

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Steve Beshear didn’t have a good week. After committing his political prestige and personally campaigned for Scott Alexander in the special election in the 30th Senate District, Alexander lost and Republicans picked up a seat in the state Senate.



Republican Brandon Smith had twice previously beaten Alexander in races for the state House and Tuesday won by 401 votes in a district with a 67 percent Democratic voter registration advantage. But the perception that Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo – who held the seat before becoming Lieutenant Governor – manipulated the nomination process to pick Alexander angered many Democrats and energized Republican efforts on Smith’s behalf. Some in both parties resented what they saw as pressure on local officials to assist Alexander’s campaign.



Beshear and Mongiardo are playing down the loss. Beshear said Thursday night at a convention of local county officials in Lexington that Tuesday was “a good and a bad day” as Democrats won two special elections for House seats but lost a close race for the Senate seat. Mongiardo called the election “democracy in action,” noting each candidate won two of the four counties in the district. Both said it was not a referendum on gambling or a blow to Beshear’s political prestige.



But gambling was an issue.



Bell County Judge/Executive Albey Brock – a Republican – said “casino gambling was in the forefront” of the election. Church groups opposed to expanded gambling worked hard for Smith, he said. And Smith said, “I’m not for the issue and my district knows that.” Late ads highlighted Alexander’s support for placing the question on the ballot, one by Smith’s campaign featuring a pair of dice which came up with Alexander’s face on them.



Frankfort noticed. Certainly Republican lawmakers noticed. Several Republican House members said Smith’s win significantly weakened prospects for passing a constitutional amendment in the House and Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said gambling couldn’t pass that chamber. Immediately after the election, Democratic Senator Ray Jones of Pikeville signaled it might be difficult for him to vote for gambling.



Williams was gleeful about winning the seat after criticizing Beshear’s involvement during the election. He went out of his way to point out the loss diminished fear by lawmakers who oppose Beshear that the governor could be an effective campaigner for their own opponents.



County officials noticed, too, and nearly every Judge/Executive and Magistrate at Thursday’s meeting in Lexington was saying it hurt the governor’s agenda and diminished the perception of his political power.



There’s an old adage in politics: people do what they do because of what you can do FOR them or because of what you can do TO them. Given the painful budget Beshear has proposed, there doesn’t seem much he can do for legislators or county officials. And given Tuesday’s result in the 30th Senate district, some may be wondering what Beshear can do to them.



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A couple of Republicans had a worse week than Beshear. Second District Congressman Ron Lewis was excoriated by members of his own party for trying to engineer the selection of his chief of staff Daniel London to succeed him.



But Thursday London withdrew and Lewis issued a written apology. It’s questionable, however, if the apology repaired damage to Lewis’ personal reputation. While he conceded his mistake, the statement carefully avoided admitting Lewis and London conspired to rig the installation of London as the only candidate in the Republican primary. When they pulled the stunt last week, both men vigorously denied they planned the maneuver well in advance. Their actions Thursday appear to contradict those denials.



Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.