by Tom Loftus, @TomLoftus_CJ –
(Photo: The Courier-Journal)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Republican Party of Kentucky reports it had $1.5 million in the bank at the end of May while the Kentucky Democratic Party had just $107,000.
Reports filed this week by both parties with the Federal Election Commission for the month of May continue to show a shift of support among some gubernatorial appointees and others to Republican Party now that it controls the governor’s office.
The Republican Party of Kentucky’s report includes a May 9 contribution of $10,000 from Mark Lynn, a Louisville optometrist. Records of the Kentucky Secretary of State show that on May 10, Gov. Matt Bevin re-appointed Lynn as chairman of the Kentucky State Fair Board.
For years, Lynn had been one of the biggest donors to the Kentucky Democratic Party. During the eight-year administration of Democrat Steve Beshear, who originally named Lynn chairman of the Fair Board, Lynn contributed at least $70,000 to the Kentucky Democratic Party.
During the month of May, the RPK got only one other $10,000 contribution – which is the maximum any person can give to a state party during any year. It came from Thomas D. Scott, of Plano, Texas, the president of Preferred Care West.
In May, the RPK reported $144,000 in total receipts and spent $86,000.
The RPK got three donations of $5,000 in May from political action committees: Advocat Inc, of Brentwood, Tenn.; American Health Care Association, of Washington, D.C.; and Direct Supply Inc., of Milwaukee.
The Kentucky Democratic Party reported $71,489 in total receipts in May, but $23,000 of that was in transfers from other Democratic Party committees such as the Democratic National Committee.
It reported one $10,000 contribution. It came from Karen May, of Frankfort. And It got one $5,000 PAC contribution – from the Kentucky Distillers Association, of Frankfort.
Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136 or [email protected].
