Senate president wants Mongiardo to vacate seat

Election 2007

Related Photos

Ed Reinke

Discussion

November 15, 2007

Anonymous The Daily Independent Thu Nov 15, 2007, 08:30 AM EST

FRANKFORT — Now that Daniel Mongiardo will be taking the oath of office as lieutenant governor on Dec. 11, Senate President David Williams wants him to vacate his seat in the Senate immediately.

Mongiardo says he'll keep his seat until he is officially sworn in, however.

The General Assembly starts Jan. 8, and Williams, R-Burkesville, said if Mongiardo resigned immediately, voters would have a state senator in place to prepare for it. Mongiardo's district covers Bell, Harlan, Leslie and Perry counties.

Williams released a letter Wednesday that he sent to Mongiardo on Nov. 9, three days after the election in which Mongiardo won office on the Democratic ticket with Gov.-elect Steve Beshear.

Mongiardo responded late Wednesday that he would wait until the inauguration.

"At that point I will resign my seat and it will be the responsibility of the governor to set a date for a special election and I'm sure he will do so promptly."

Williams said he based his request to Mongiardo on reading that Mongiardo will be spending much time as co-chair of Beshear's transition team. He said he does not understand why Mongiardo is staying on as a senator.

"It now will be late January at the earliest before his replacement can join the Senate and that person will have no preparation for the job," Williams said.

If Mongiardo resigns now, Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher could set the election date. If he waits until the inauguration, Steve Beshear, as governor, would call the election. The law requires a special election to be at least 35 days from the day the governor issues the date for it.

"Your delay until the inauguration would force a special election to occur during the session and will undoubtedly politicize the beginning of the session and distract the members from the bipartisan cooperation you and Gov.-elect Beshear openly espoused," Williams said in his letter to Mongiardo.

State Rep. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, said he would be interested in running for the Senate seat. Other possible GOP contenders, he said, include Rep. Tim Couch of Hyden and Leslie County Clerk Jim Lewis of Hyden.

Lewis said he is "looking at" the Senate seat but has made no final decision. Couch was not immediately available for comment.

Former state Rep. Roger Noe of Cumberland, a Democrat, has said he is interested in the seat.

Text Only

Election 2007

Time to apply
Those hoping to receive need-based aid from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority to attend college in the fall of 2011 are advised to apply for the assistance immediately. Since the aid is awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, when individuals apply can be the difference in whether or not they receive financial help to attend college.

January 3, 2011
Young leaders
The eight students from Russell High School and Raceland-Worthington High School who attended the first-ever Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty are not your typical teenagers. While their classmates have been spending their summer days sleeping late,

The eight students from Russell High School and Raceland-Worthington High School who attended the first-ever Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty are not your typical teenagers. While their classmates have been spending their summer days sleeping late, lounging at the pool or just goofing off with their friends, these eight students have voluntarily given up nearly 40 hours of their vacation time over a three-week period learning about the social and economic woes in Greenup County and the non-profit agencies working to alleviate those problems

July 10, 2010
Senate president wants Mongiardo to vacate seat Now that Daniel Mongiardo will be taking the oath of office as lieutenant governor on Dec. 11, Senate President David Williams wants him to vacate his seat in the Senate immediately.
November 15, 2007 1 Photo
Beshear planning Kentucky-themed inauguration Gov.-elect Steve Beshear's inauguration next month is going to have a Kentucky theme to it, with many horses.
November 14, 2007 1 Photo
Republicans praise Fletcher, vow 2008 will be different First they looked back, thanking Gov. Ernie Fletcher and listing his accomplishments. Then they looked forward, promising to unite and make sure U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is re-elected next year.
November 10, 2007
Beshear starts transition Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, a Republican who was removed from his perch atop the state Justice Cabinet, will help Gov.-elect Steve Beshear with his incoming administration's transition to power.
November 9, 2007 1 Photo
Gov.-elect Steve Beshear meets with legislators Gov.-elect Steve Beshear said Wednesday that his lopsided victory was a clear signal that Kentuckians want to decide the fate of casino gambling.
November 8, 2007 1 Photo
Beshear completes comeback Democrat Steve Beshear easily defeated the scandal-plagued Republican incumbent Tuesday to become governor of Kentucky, pulling off a political comeback 20 years after he last held office.
November 7, 2007 3 Photos 1 Link
Hewlett, Bentley win in Greenup Two Greenup city officials who were appointed to fill vacancies earlier this year will get to hold onto those jobs awhile longer.
November 6, 2007 1 Photo
Beshear wins easily Steve Beshear cruised to an easy 18-point win over incumbent Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, crushing hopes for the Republican Party to hold onto the governor’s office for a second term.
November 6, 2007 1 Link
More Election 2007 Headlines

Election 2007

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Senate president wants Mongiardo to vacate seat

Site Map

Contact Us