Beshear brings state road money to districts with House Democrats facing tough races

Gov. Steve Beshear has made a couple stops this week to deliver oversized checks and make state transportation announcements along side a couple of incumbent House Democrats who face tough re-election fights on Nov. 6.

Beshear joined Democratic Rep. Jeff Greer in Brandenburg for one announcement Tuesday then traveled to Owensboro for a road-project-related press conference Wednesday with Democratic Rep. Jim Glenn.

(Hat tip: Courier-Journal reporter Tom Loftus who tweeted out Tuesday, “Gov makes road announcement with Rep. Greer today. Schedules one with Rep. Glenn tomorrow. Both reps face opposition on Nov. ballot.”)

The announcement in Meade County — the heart of the 27th District that Greer has represented since 2007 — was for the beginning of design work on the $11.6 million reconstruction of a nearly four-mile section of KY 79 in Meade County.

“This is an extremely important project, and I’ve been proud to work with Governor Beshear, Transportation Cabinet officials and my legislative colleagues to help secure its funding,” Greer said in a press release.

The 27th District race is a re-match of a very close race from 2010 between Greer and Republican Dalton Jantzen. Greer won by 128 votes in 2010.

The Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee kicked in $10,000 towards Greer’s race.

But Greer has already surpassed his fundraising from 2010 and has brought in more than $115,000, which is on the high end for a state House candidate. Greer has spent a little less than half of that and has $61,117 on hand, according to his latest report filed last week with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Jantzen’s fundraising numbers were not yet available online.

On Wednesday, Beshear appeared with Glenn in Owensboro to announce more than $550,000 in state transportation funds for a 15-mile-long Greenbelt Park trail. Some of that money also will go toward road resurfacing.

In a press release, Glenn said, “it means a lot to have Gov. Beshear travel here to announce these projects.”

Glenn, who has represented the 13th House District since 2007, faces independent candidate Bill Barron, an Owensboro businessman who has said he would caucus with Republicans. Glenn, like Greer, has raised more than $100,000. He has twice as much money on hand as Barron.

While this is the first time Glenn and Barron have faced each other, Glenn narrowly defeated his Republican opponent, Ben Boarman, in the 2010 election by 206 votes.

The Democratic Executive Committee and House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee each shelled out $11,500 to boost Glenn’s chances of re-election.

___________________Raised____________Spent_________On Hand
Glenn (D)………………$118,685.66……….$19,107.30…………$99,578.36
Barron (I)………………$61,273…………….$12,212.99…………$49,060.61