FRANKFORT — Democrat Todd Hollenbach was elected state treasurer on Tuesday, defeating a Republican who said the job was irrelevant and should be abolished.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Hollenbach had 574,444 votes or 58 percent, to Wheeler's 422,350 votes or 42 percent.
Hollenbach will take over for Democrat Jonathan Miller, who is completing his second term as state treasurer and could not seek re-election because of term limits.
Besides signing checks for the state, the state treasurer's duties include maintaining the state's unclaimed property and sitting on several boards, including the Kentucky Lottery Corp., Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System and state investment commission.
Wheeler ran a highly unusual campaign that talked down the job she wanted. She said the treasurer's job was unnecessary and its duties could shift elsewhere in state government.
Abolishing the office would require a constitutional change approved by voters. Wheeler said if elected she would have pushed for getting such a measure through the General Assembly and onto the ballot.
Hollenbach said the treasurer should take on more responsibilities.
One role he suggested would be as a chief advocate in making Kentuckians more financially astute to protect them from predatory lenders. He also said the treasurer could be responsible for putting together independent reviews of state economic initiatives.
Hollenbach, an attorney, has a well-known political name, especially in his hometown of Louisville.
His father served two terms as Jefferson County judge-executive until being unseated in 1977 by Mitch McConnell, now Republican leader in the U.S. Senate. Hollenbach's father made unsuccessful runs in Democratic primaries for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Wheeler drew upon her broad connections across Kentucky from her previous stint as director of the state Administrative Office of the Courts.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
Election 2007
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Ed Reinke
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Democrat Hollenbach wins state treasurer race
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