Hollenbach handily defeats GOP's Wheeler for state treasurer in Kentucky

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/NEWS0106/711071086/1008/NEWS01

By Sheldon S. Shafer
[email protected]
The Courier-Journal

Democrat L.J. "Todd" Hollenbach, a Louisville lawyer, was elected state treasurer yesterday, easily defeating Republican rival Melinda Wheeler.

Winning 58 percent of the vote, Hollenbach showed strong support statewide, especially in his home base of Jefferson County, in beating Wheeler, a 30-year veteran of the state court system from Georgetown.

"It's a good year to be a Democrat," Hollenbach said last night, referring to voter dissatisfaction with Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher. "I had a lot of good help and support."

Wheeler, 58, who retired last year as director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, had campaigned largely on her stance in favor of a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of treasurer.

Hollenbach said last night that his win shows that "most people like the idea of having an accountable treasurer, chosen through the election process."

Wheeler said in a phone interview last night that she was derailed by a "Democratic tsunami." She said she didn't think her call to abolish the office hurt her.

Wheeler added that she will "not run for anything else, ever again."

The win means Hollenbach was able to achieve what his father, Todd Hollenbach III, who served two terms in the 1970s as Jefferson County judge-executive, was unable to do in three attempts -- win a statewide office.

FULL story at link.