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Ky. Governor Loses Bid For Re-Election

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By CHRIS SUNDHEIM, The Associated Press

Published: November 7, 2007

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican whose lone term was dogged by a hiring scandal, lost badly Tuesday despite an election eve effort to woo conservative voters by displaying the Ten Commandments in the state Capitol.
Democratic challenger Steve Beshear, a former attorney general and lieutenant governor, cruised to a 20-percentage-point victory after a campaign in which he repeatedly reminded voters of accusations that Fletcher directed the hiring of political allies for jobs protected by the state's merit system.

In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour, practically the only politician to come out of Hurricane Katrina looking good, easily defeated a Democratic challenger Tuesday to win a second term.

Barbour had a nearly 20-percentage-point advantage over John Arthur Eaves Jr. Barbour campaigned on his successful management of the hurricane recovery, stressing job growth and rebuilding.

Voters also chose mayors in San Francisco, Houston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

No serious challenger threatened San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's bid for a second term, even though the mayor admitted just eight months ago that he had a drinking problem and an affair with a close aide's wife.

In Philadelphia, former Democratic Councilman Michael Nutter became the city's next mayor on his promises to reduce gun violence, crack down on no-bid contracts and offer $10,000 tax breaks to companies that hire convicts. But first Nutter wants to declare a citywide litter cleanup and rid the City of Brotherly Love of its less-flattering nickname: Filthadelphia.

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, now 27, who became the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city last year at age 26 after the death of the incumbent, overcame a challenge from Republican Mark DeSantis.

In Baltimore, Sheila Dixon became the first black woman elected to that office as Democrats maintained their decades-long grip on City Hall. Dixon was appointed to the job in January after then-Mayor Martin O'Malley became governor.

In the lone congressional race, voters in northwest Ohio were choosing among five Republicans and two Democrats in a primary for the nomination to succeed Rep. Paul Gillmor, who died in September from a fall at his Washington apartment. The general election will be Dec. 11.

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