FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Republican Hal Heiner launched a group Wednesday to raise money in support of GOP candidates for the Kentucky House, a move that raises his statewide profile as he weighs a possible run for governor.
Heiner, a former Louisville councilman, said Kentucky has fallen behind during the nearly century-long rule of the House by Democrats. Kentucky’s unemployment rate remains stubbornly high and its per-capita income ranks near the bottom nationally, he said.
By contrast, he said, states with GOP-run legislatures have experienced much stronger growth, he said.
“Kentucky has enormous untapped potential, and with new leadership in Frankfort, I am convinced that our state can also benefit from massive economic growth and job creation,” Heiner said in a statement.
His new organization is called New Direction Kentucky. The group’s steering committee includes prominent business executives, Republican activists and a couple of former state GOP chairmen.
The group will raise funds and work independently of the campaigns in support of GOP House candidates, said spokesman Joe Burgan. The money will be used to promote candidates through mass mailings and commercials and will organize get-out-the-vote efforts, he said.
Looking beyond 2014, Heiner is taking “a hard look” at a possible run for governor in 2015, Burgan said.
“He is in the decision-making stage right now,” he said.
Heiner lost a hard-fought campaign for mayor of Louisville in 2010.
Another potential GOP gubernatorial candidate, state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, said Heiner’s efforts would be welcomed, as long as the objective is to support Republican House candidates.
“If it becomes a vehicle by which to promote Hal Heiner for governor, then obviously there will be some legal issues there,” Comer told reporters at the state Capitol.
Asked about his political plans, Comer said he’s focused on this year’s elections but noted that he’s making the rounds to speak at Republican gatherings across Kentucky.
Heiner’s efforts to aid GOP candidates statewide will build good will and raise his profile with key party activists, said University of Kentucky political scientist Stephen Voss.
“The only real risk for him is if he fails to raise enough money,” Voss said. “That could hurt his credibility with the Republicans he would need to mount a gubernatorial bid.”
Republicans are making a strong push this year to complete their takeover of the Kentucky General Assembly. They’re in firm control of the state Senate, while Democrats hold a 54-46 advantage in the House.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo predicts that Democrats will pick up as many as seven seats when all 100 House seats are up for election in November. Stumbo shrugged off Heiner’s announcement, saying independent expenditure groups are forming to help Democratic and Republican legislative candidates.
“He’ll have his and we’ll have ours,” Stumbo said. “And ours will be adequately funded.”
State Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Logsdon said Democrats put together a strong lineup of candidates that will foil the Republican push for House control.
“We’ve heard this song for four years now, that they’re going to take the House,” he said.
Potential Democratic candidates for governor in 2015 include Attorney General Jack Conway, state Auditor Adam Edelen, former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo and former Auditor Crit Luallen.
Democrat Steve Beshear is in the middle of his second term as governor. Governors are limited to two terms in Kentucky.
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