A Foward-Looking Ticket

In what may seem like an early campaign announcement, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday that he would seek re-election in 2011 with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson as lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket.

The two signed up with the Registry of Election Finance in order to begin seeking campaign donations.

Abramson served three terms as mayor of Louisville, and currently is in his second four-year term as mayor of the consolidated Louisville-Jefferson County government.

Beshear picked a new running mate because current Lieut. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo is seeking a U.S. Senate seat.

This week’s announcement came as the state’s unemployment rate climbed to 11.1% in June, up from 10.7% in May, according to the Office of Employment and Training. Last month’s jobless rate is 4.5% higher than the 6.4% rate recorded in June 2008.

“In June 2009, Kentucky’s economy continued to deteriorate as nearly every sector endured job losses,” said chief labor market analyst Justine Detzel. “The manufacturing sector suffered the largest employment decline, which is indicative of the prolonged manufacturing slump rippling through the economy. Retrenchment by consumers trickled through the trade, transportation and utilities sector, resulting in 1,700 fewer positions in these industries.”

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER