By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — It looks like there will be a rematch for the 18th state Senate seat between Democrat Robin Webb who narrowly won an August special election for the seat over Dr. Jack Ditty in his first run for office.
Ditty, a Greenup dermatologist, came within 282 votes of beating Webb, a Grayson attorney, in the race to succeed Republican Charlie Borders in that race. On Thursday he said he will run again in 2010 and plans to file for the seat in the next few days.
“We had a very intense campaign and a lot of exposure and a lot of people working for us, so we’ve got a good foundation to make a very good race next fall,” Ditty said. “A lot of people have encouraged me to run.”
Ditty said Webb, who previously served in the state House representing Carter and Lewis counties, had more experience having won five House races while he was running his first race and had only 35 days to build support. He also noted that independent Guy Gibbons Jr. polled more than 500 votes, which could have been the difference in the race.
“There’s also been a Republican shift that has occurred nationally which will have an effect on next November’s elections,” Ditty said. “I think next year is an opportunity for Republicans everywhere.”
Webb said she isn’t surprised Ditty might want another shot.
“It’s no surprise to me.” Webb said. “But we don’t need another vote for the status quo in the Senate and in Frankfort.”
Beshear opened up the seat last summer by appointing Borders to the Public Service Commission. Webb’s win narrowed the Republican majority to 20-17-1 but the GOP’s edge has shrunk again as Beshear appointed Dan Kelly to a judgeship. A Dec. 8 special election in the 14th District could further narrow Republican control to 19-18-1 if Democrat Jody Haydon defeats Republican Jimmy Higdon.
Beshear has said Republicans are blocking passage of legislation to authorize electronic slot machines at horse tracks which he says is crucial to saving Kentucky’s horse industry. In both the August special election and the race in the 14th District, horse industry interests poured money into the Democratic challenger’s campaign. Control of the Senate and power to draw legislative and congressional re-districting lines also hang in the balance. So both parties will watch the rematch closely.
The August election between Webb and Ditty was characterized by a bevy of negative ads. That opened Ditty’s eyes to the rough-and-tumble nature of politics.
“I learned a lot – it was a tremendous educational experience for me,” Ditty said. He said he’s continuing to visit all the counties of the district and concentrating on building grass-roots support for the Republican Party and meeting prospective voters.
Webb said she’s faced negative attacks in all of her races and won’t be shocked if it happens again next fall. She hasn’t filed yet but will – likely after the holidays.
“I’m just enjoying being the Senator for the 18th district,” Webb said, adding she visits two or three of the district’s six counties every day. “I’m just going to run my race and concentrate on the position and rely on the people who know me best to elect me just like in the last race.”
Ditty won four of the six counties in August (Bracken, Greenup, Lewis, and Mason) and narrowly lost Robertson but Webb rolled up a margin of 1,150 votes in her home county of Carter in the special election.
No one else has yet filed for the race. Carter County Republican Chair Mignon Colley said others could file but she hasn’t heard of anyone who intends to do so.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
