A few Pence-ive thoughts

We receive the news that Lt. Gov. Steve Pence is not planning to run for office in this election cycle with mixed feelings.

On one hand, we're pleased that he is not running against his boss and his ticket mate from the 2003 election, Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Pence owes his political status to Fletcher, who chose him as his running mate when original lieutenant governor candidate Hunter Bates was declared ineligible to run due to a judge's arbitrary interpretation of his residency status. Rather than fight that ruling in court -- a decision that Bates could quite likely have won, but in a time-consuming legal battle -- Bates stepped aside and Pence took his place on the ticket.

On the other hand, we admit to a certain disappointment that Pence is not going to run for attorney general. As a former federal prosecutor, he would have been a refreshing change from the partisan and unprofessional Greg Stumbo.

A competent prosecutor keeps his cards close to the vest and prefers to let the facts of the case determine the outcome. In the merit system persecution of the Fletcher administration, Stumbo's staff leaked more than the Wolf Creek Dam at Lake Cumberland. The unprofessional acts of Stumbo's staff resultedin a constant parade of comments made and documents leaked to the press, trying the case in the court of public opinion for partisan political gain.

We haven't been entirely happy with Pence's performance as lieutenant governor, nor his loyalty to Gov. Fletcher. Although Pence has criticized Stumbo for the way he conducted the personnel persecution, he was also unduly critical of Fletcher's pardons. We have to wonder, what would Pence prefer? Did he want Stumbo and his staff to continue to seek indictments, and smear good people's reputations in the process? In the media circus surrounding the hiring persecution, those indicted were being unfairly cast as guilty until proven innnocent. And who knows how many other people the investigation would have gone after, resulting in these people having to hire lawyers and seeing their names dragged through the mud?

But there is potentially a very bright spot on the horizon. Published reports about Pence's decision not to be a candidate this year and to return to private law practice said he had not ruled out a run for state office or for Congress in the future.

Let us be the first to put Steve Pence's name forward as the candidate to make liberal Democrat John Yarmuth a one-termer. As a former federal prosecutor and the state's second-in-command with the additional duties he carried while serving as lieutenant governor, he'd bring some attractive attributes to the table.

A challenger to Yarmuth needs to emerge very early and start building an organization and raising money. At this point we can't think of a better candidate than Steve Pence.