FINANCIAL REPORTS OF COUNTY ATTORNEY CANDIDATES

The 32 day pre-election campaign reports are due so I thought that this would be a good time to review the finances of the three candidates who are running for County Attorney. Actually the review is simple. Due to the timing of Galen Clark’s filing for the office he had not taken in any contributions and has not spent any monies as his report reflects. Stuart Ulferts has no report on file-at least the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance web site states that there is no report on file. Due to the signs that I have seen it appears that he has spent some money.

Now the report of John Carter gives rise to some interesting observations and possibilities. His report reflects that he has received $27,849 and has spent $23,051.05. Thus, he has a balance of $4,797.95.

If you remember, the Fendley family did not want Galen Clark to be the County Attorney because he had not practiced law in Oldham County. Well, of Carter’s total receipts he has contributed $23,000 to his own campaign. Thus, other contributors have only contributed $4,849 to him. Other than himself, Carter has had thirty contributors. Of those nineteen are attorneys. Of the nineteen attorneys only one has an office in Oldham County. The others have offices in Louisville with one exception and that is Martin Johnstone. He is on the Supreme Court. Carter’s biggest donor is none other than Barbara Fendley. Thus, the majority of Carter’s support comes from outside Oldham County.

Barbara Fendley made a phone call to Anne Gernstein shortly after her husband’s demise. Do you think that her husband’s replacement as the Republican nominee for the November election might have been discussed? Again, the Fendleys thought that Galen Clark should not be the Republican nominee because he did not practice in Oldham County. Considering Carters supporters, it appears that if he is elected, there will be a lot of Louisville influence in Oldham County. Further, John Carter served as a District Judge in Jefferson County-not in Oldham County.

Personally, I don’t believe that it matters that Clark did not practice in Oldham County. What matters is his qualifications and whether he has the same values as most of the people in Oldham County have.