Fletcher: Lawsuit confirms decision about nominations
By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer
AURORA, Ky. - For Gov. Ernie Fletcher, the lawsuit three Murray State regent nominees filed against him confirms he made the right decision in refusing to appoint them to the university board.
Kenneth “Pete” Galloway of Sedalia, Sharon Green of Mayfield and Kenneth Shadowen of Benton sued the governor earlier this week, asking a Franklin Circuit Court judge to order Fletcher to appoint one of them to MSU's Board of Regents. If the governor doesn't, the postsecondary nominating committee - which initially forwarded the three names to the governor in early July - should have to, the lawsuit says.
“I don't know those individuals, but the fact they filed a lawsuit solidifies that I made the right decision,” Fletcher said while making comments on a variety of subjects to statewide media during a Republican gathering Friday night at Kenlake State Resort Park.
With Kentucky Lake as his backdrop, Fletcher spoke to about 100 area Republicans during the GOP's pre-Fancy Farm Picnic party. Traditionally, Democrats have gathered on the picnic's eve at Kentucky Dam Village.
Fletcher planned to speak at the Republican breakfast this morning in Graves County before going to the National Governors Association summer meeting in South Carolina. He's skipping the Fancy Farm Picnic that draws thousands of people.
The political speaking is slated to start at 2 p.m. on the grounds of St. Jermone Catholic Church in Fancy Farm.
Despite recent headlines about clashes between Murray State and the governor and his administration, Fletcher said he and his Executive Cabinet Secretary Robbie Rudolph, a Murray businessman who is running as the lieutenant governor candidate in 2007, received an “outstanding reception.”
“You're going to have controversy and we've certainly had our share at Murray State,” Fletcher said in an interview with the Ledger & Times.
The three regent nominees who filed the lawsuit are among six the nominating committee has passed along to the governor for appointment to the position former chairman Don Sparks vacated June 30. The other three - George Long of Benton, Jerry Shroat of Fort Mitchell and Bobby Waller of Lexington - were nominated as a second list of choices July 19. Two days later Fletcher asked for a third set of nominees.
“We want someone there who will bring a good balance to the board and Murray's interest at heart,” Fletcher said, adding that he congratulated the six for being nominated. “... I was elected to make sure I made the best appointments and I didn't know these people.”
MSU interim President Dr. Kern Alexander has said Fletcher wants to appoint someone who will help settle a breach of contract lawsuit former athletic director E.W. Dennison - Rudolph's friend - filed against the university about 18 months ago. In defending the delay in the regent appointment, Fletcher went back to a line he's used before in describing the tenure of Alexander and his son, Dr. King Alexander, whose presidencies combine to date back to 1994: “I don't think it's good for any state institution to be family owned and operated.”
“I don't know Kern personally, but we will continue to do what is right despite those outbursts,” Fletcher said of recent clashes with MSU's president.
Fletcher remained steadfast in his allegiance to Rudolph.
“Anyone who says he's trying to hurt Murray State doesn't know his heart,” he said.
Fletcher addressed controversies - whether that meant the delayed regent appointment at MSU or the ongoing investigation into his administration's hiring practices - when he spoke to the crowd.
“We are in a watershed time,” Fletcher said about choosing to go forward or backward. “... This battle has come maybe because it has to be fought.”
For the complete story, see Saturday's Ledger & Times.
Story created Aug 05, 2006 - 01:30:42 EDT.
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