That 20%, or approximately $400,000 of KY Gov Steve Beshear’s current primary dollars comes from state employees and appointees doesn’t help as whistle-blowers have come forward to allege strong-arm tactics were used to solicit campaign dollars on his behalf.
FRANKFORT–The Republican Party of Kentucky and an employee of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet are alleging Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration strong-armed some state employees for contributions to Beshear’s re-election campaign.
Dr. Rodney Young, a 27-year state employee who works for the Department of Juvenile Justice, delivered a signed letter Monday to RPK Chairman Steve Robertson claiming the Cabinet’s Deputy Secretary, Charles Geveden, pressured him and other state employees for contributions to Beshear’s re-election campaign. The letter was also delivered to Attorney General Jack Conway’s office and Robertson filed complaints with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission and the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
The complaints cite a December 2010 CNHI News Service story about similar complaints by non-merit — or politically appointed — state employees that they felt pressured to attend a Frankfort fundraiser for Beshear shortly before Christmas. A spokesman for Beshear’s campaign told CNHI News at that time no state employees should feel any pressure to contribute to Beshear’s campaign which “strictly follows all campaign laws.”
There have been similar previous reports involving Beshear, one going back as far as December 2010. This time, however, there is a whistle-blower involved, one who has named other individuals who reportedly suffered the same strong-arm tactics in a quest for campaign cash.
The complaints cite a December 2010 CNHI News Service story about similar complaints by non-merit — or politically appointed — state employees that they felt pressured to attend a Frankfort fundraiser for Beshear shortly before Christmas. A spokesman for Beshear’s campaign told CNHI News at that time no state employees should feel any pressure to contribute to Beshear’s campaign which “strictly follows all campaign laws.”
A Kentucky political blogger has posted documents referenced in some of the reporting.
UPDATE — Since many of you have asked, here are the documents referenced
Beshear has been a strong supporter of whistle-blowers in the past, specifically mentioning both them and major ethics reform as part of his pledge to Kentuckians at his 2007 inauguration. Today, his campaign is whistling a slightly different tune, calling it gossip and rumor mongering in denouncing the individual who came forward. Also, in what seems to be a bit of tit-for-tat, within hours of the reports surfacing, Kentucky’s State Democrat Party filed ethics charges against Beshear’s opponent, Republican challenger David Williams. They involve a relatively small amount of money, $5,ooo, Democrats are accusing Williams of not reporting those winnings on financial disclosure forms.
I expect to earn your trust, not to simply be given it. I expect my administration to be accountable – and it starts at the top, with me.
That’s why one of my first official acts as governor will be to require all my top appointees to take extensive training in laws relating to ethics and the merit system, and to pledge to follow them.
In addition, one of my first proposals to the legislature will be a package of new ethics laws to govern us – increasing penalties for violating the ethics code, strengthening protections for whistleblowers, and changing the way appointments to the Ethics Commission itself are made.
We need to get our own house in order before we can be trusted to do the people’s business. I look forward to working with legislators of both parties to pass tough new ethics and accountability standards we can all be proud of.
We’ve seen too often what happens when the people don’t trust their government. Enacting new ethics standards will help to regain some of that trust.
So will governing effectively, efficiently and humbly. This, I pledge to you.
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