Kelly appointed to judgeship

The politics in the Kentucky State Senate continue to unfold as Senator Dan Kelly (R) the former Senate Majority Floor Leader accepts a judicial appointment from Democrat Governor Steve Beshear leaving a vacant Senate seat. This open seat will be hotly contested as the balance of power in the State Senate hangs in the balance.

With Kelly's resignation, the Republicans hold the Senate 19 to 17 Democrats and 1 Independent. The winner of Kelly's open seat will either strengthen the Republican control of the Senate or shrink the majority down to a very narrow one-seat margin.

Here is the article from the Herald-Leader.
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Kelly appointed to judgeship: "FRANKFORT -- Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Republican state Senator Dan Kelly to an open judgeship on Monday in an effort to further erode the Republican Party's slim majority in the state Senate.



In an executive order, Beshear appointed the long-time senator from Springfield to an open circuit court judgeship in the 11th Judicial District in Central Kentucky, paving the way for a special election.

Beshear set the special election for Kelly's 14th Senate District seat and for an open house seat for Dec. 8.

A seven-person judicial nominating commission on Friday picked Kelly and two other lawyers as possible nominees. Republicans and Democrats alike have said they expected Beshear to appoint Kelly as a way to slim the Republican majority in the state Senate."