Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher Appoints Political Donors to Various State University Boards

(What does it take to become a college board member in Kentucky... why, of course, give money to the doomed incumbent republican governor in his hopeless quest to get re-elected)

Fletcher appoints string of college board members across Kentucky
Writer: JOE BIESK, Associated Press Writer
Kentucky Enquirer, Covington

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed a number of political donors to various university boards throughout the state Wednesday, including the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. Fletcher appointed or reappointed members to the boards that oversee Kentucky's eight public universities, the state's community and technical college system and Kentucky Educational Television. At UK, Fletcher appointed retired surgeon Charles Sachatello of Lexington to a six-year term on the board. Combined, Sachatello and his wife have contributed more than $5,000 to Fletcher's campaigns for governor, according to records filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Billy Joe Miles of Owensboro was reappointed to the UK board. Miles has given $2,000 to Fletcher's first run for governor, and $1,000 to his re-election efforts. Pikeville lawyer Pamela May, who gave Fletcher $1,000 last year, also was reappointed to the board. Meanwhile, Fletcher reappointed Owsley Brown Frazier, a former Brown-Forman executive, to a six-year seat on U of L's board of trustees. Brown has also donated to Fletcher's campaigns, including $1,000 last year. Dr. William Selvidge of Simpsonville was also appointed to the U of L board. He gave Fletcher $2,000 in his 2003 campaign and another $1,000 earlier this year, according to records. Fletcher also appointed former NFL player Frank Minnifield to the board. Elsewhere, Fletcher reappointed Covington attorney Martin Butler, also a donor, to Northern Kentucky University's board of regents. Richmond real estate agent Gary Abney was reappointed to Eastern Kentucky University's board. Abney gave Fletcher $1,000 earlier this year, according to records. Fletcher also reappointed James H. Booth, president of Czar Coal Corp., to the Morehead State University board of regents. Booth, according to records, has given Fletcher $2,000 for his gubernatorial campaigns, including $1,000 in 2003 and $1,000 last year. The governor also tapped Bowling Green car dealer James Neel Johnson to the Western Kentucky University board of regents. Johnson is also a political donor. At Murray State University, Fletcher appointed Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti to a seat on the board of regents. Manchikanti, the medical director at Paducah's Pain Management Center, and his wife have contributed to both of Fletcher's gubernatorial campaigns. Fletcher also appointed Joel Schrader, an official in the state Homeland Security Department, and reappointed Karen Beard, a management consultant from Frankfort, to the Kentucky State board of regents. Schrader has contributed $250 to Fletcher's re-election campaign this year, according to records.