Fletcher faithful flock to local fundraiser

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher made a fundraising stop in Corbin Tuesday evening, calling Corbin and the surrounding area a “supportive” base for his upcoming reelection campaign.
The event, hosted by First Corbin Financial President and CEO Terry Forcht and his wife Marion, local attorney Robert Brown and his wife Penny, and state senator Tom Jensen with his wife Nannette, was held at the Vintage House Restaurant in Corbin.
Fletcher used the fundraiser to tout his achievements during office and said his administration has been good for the people of southeastern Kentucky.
“More money has come into these counties [for projects] than they’ve ever seen,” Fletcher said. “It’s geographic equity that they haven’t had before. Your legislators down here are doing an excellent job.”
Beyond record allocations for road and infrastructure projects in the area, Fletcher said he’s also mined “the old 5th district” for some of its leadership talent. Two of his cabinet secretaries are from Whitley County – Bill Nighbert in the Transportation Cabinet and Teresa Hill in the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet. He also noted that his Adjutant General and General Counsel are from the area.
“It’s been an integral part of our administration and this region has provided a lot of talent for us. That’s one thing we are talking about.”
Fletcher spoke Monday in Somerset about how the tragedy on 9-11-2001 changed the way emergency personnel and departments operate and how Kentucky is on the leading edge of the homeland security movement. He echoed those comments during his Corbin visit.
And he noted during his speech that two and half years of a Republican administration in Frankfort has drastically changed the state’s character.
“We’ve made about 1,900 appointments to boards and commissions. When you do that, you start to change the whole character of the state. That means you put people that share your values on the university boards and in the court system … people that will adjudicate the law and not try to write law.”
The invitation-only event was well attended. As principal organizer, Terry Forcht said Fletcher was the best candidate for governor and supports him for a second term because he shares his values and is business friendly.
“It’s the type of business that we have here in Corbin that he’s very good for,” Forcht said. “He brought us a lot of opportunities. We just feel like he’s done a very good job and stands for the principals we stand for – a Republican form of government that is honest.”
During his speech, Fletcher said his administration has set the state’s budget course right after inheriting a projected $1 billion deficit. Kentucky has had three consecutive fiscal years with surpluses totaling $377 million.
He added that he is happy and relieved that charges against him stemming from the merit hiring probe, initiated by Attorney General Greg Stumbo, have been dropped, freeing him up to focus more on the future of the state.
Forcht said he thinks once the 2007 campaign for Governor heats up, Fletcher will easily shake off any negative publicity he got during the investigation.
“Being an incumbent, he’s already got a good base to draw from,” he said. “I think when the campaign starts, he will be able to overcome those problems because he’s a good candidate and he’s good for Kentucky.”
Fletchers running mate, Robbie Rudolph, who is currently Executive Secretary of the Cabinet, was also on hand for the event.