2007: Steve Beshear for Governor

Even AFTER doing my research, I honestly do not know enough about former Lt. Governor Steve Beshear with regards to making an endorsement. He picks up points in my book for RESIGNING right after Jerry Lundergan was elected as the state party chairman. Does this mean that he would be the candidate representing the good government wing of the party? Does his running mean other candidates won't?

Here's some more info from WHAS-11 reporter Mark Hebert on the possible Steve Beshear-Daniel Mongiardo ticket:

Beshear is a Lexington attorney. He was Lt. Governor under Martha Layne Collins from 1983-87. He lost his own party primary for Governor in 1987 and lost to Mitch McConnell in the 1996 U.S. Senate race. Kentucky voters who are under 30 years old probably have no idea who Steve Beshear is. Mongiardo is a doctor and state senator. He barely lost the 2004 U.S. Senate race to Jim Bunning, so he is relatively well-known statewide. Mongiardo will face questions about his personal life after admitting in 2005 that he was dating a 20-year-old U.K. co-ed. I'll write more on the governor's race and other political topics later this weekend, but it looks like Beshear and Mongiardo are the first to jump in because Steve Henry is struggling to find a running mate.

Daniel Mongiardo should have no problem with regards to name recognition but he's running for the #2 spot most likely. However, Beshear might have a problem with name recognition to those of us under 30 years old that really don't know that much about him.

I did some research at looked at his attorney bio with Stites and Harbison PLLC:

After law school, Steve practiced for three years in the New York City firm of White & Case. He later served as a Kentucky state legislator, Kentucky Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. In 1987, Steve joined Stites & Harbison's Lexington office.

Steve serves on the board of CommerceLexington, Inc. He is a director of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and a member of the UK College of Law Visiting Committee. He is also active with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, God's Pantry Food Bank, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Bluegrass Tomorrow, a Central Kentucky long-range planning group.

He is an avid foxhunter and golfer who also enjoys snow skiing, tennis and UK basketball.

Beshear went to the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and law school.

It should be interesting to note the following:

Steve works on complex litigation cases. For example, he has been representing the Trustee in the bankruptcy of a former Kentucky Governor involving over $400 million in claims. He has also made several oral arguments in appellate cases, many tied to the liquidation of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co.

As to Mongiardo, he probably will face those questions like Mark Hebert said. Whether they come up, I don't know but this political blogger does not think that it would be a problem.

As to an endorsement, I am waiting until other potential candidates make their final decisions. Look for an endorsement from this blog within the coming days as soon as I find out the official word from the other potential candidates.