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Fletcher appoints string of college board members across Kentucky

FRANKFORT Ky.
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.


– Associated Press



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