The Chatter: Louisville gaining a state House seat? Plus two departures from Beshear's team

Louisville could gain a state House seat in the upcoming round of legislative redistricting, House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark told Pure Politics.

One draft of a new potential congressional map came out yesterday. But neither chamber has released plans for suggested new state House or Senate districts.

Clark, a Democrat from Louisville, has been serving as point man for Jefferson County when it comes to state House redistricting.

He told Pure Politics that his intent is to protect incumbents while giving Louisville another legislative district. Here’s what he said:

Geveden leaving as deputy secretary

Charles Geveden, deputy secretary for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, plans to retire at the end of the year, Tom Loftus of the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

Geveden has served as deputy secretary for four years under Gov. Steve Beshear’s first administration. Geveden is a former state lawmaker who served the 1st District in far western Kentucky from 1987 through 2004 and worked in the attorney general’s office while Greg Stumbo was attorney general from 2004 through 2007.

Earlier this fall, Geveden got caught up in allegations of improper solicitations of campaign contributions. Two Justice cabinet employees said Geveden called them to attend a fundraiser, as Pure Politics reported.

Geveden and Beshear denied the allegations. Geveden, 71, told Loftus his retirement had nothing to do with the allegations.

Beshear loses campaign staffer

Beshear is also losing key political adviser, Sherman Brown, to the lobbying world. Brown had played various roles in Beshear’s two recent campaigns for governor, including deputy campaign manager this year.

Brown is joining the lobbying firm of McCarthy Strategy Solutions.

“I am excited to join McCarthy Strategic Solutions, a firm that is known as much for its integrity as its ability to deliver effective results for its clients,” Brown said in a statement.

The firm was founded by John McCarthy, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky. It counts Skipper Martin, former chief of staff to former Gov. Paul Patton and Amy Wickliffe, a former Republican fundraiser, as agents.

In a statement, Beshear said he would miss Brown’s hard work over the last five years.

“Over the past five years, I have relied heavily on the hard work and wise counsel of Sherman,” Beshear said in a statement. “His loyalty and dedication to success have made him an invaluable member of my political team, especially most recently as Deputy Campaign Manager for the Beshear-Abramson campaign. While he will be greatly missed, Jane and I wish him all the best in the future.”

-Reporting by Kenny Colston