73% oppose Fletcher's pardons, poll shows

Governor stands by his decision

By Mark Pitsch
mpitsch@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Nearly three out of four Kentuckians think Gov. Ernie Fletcher should not have issued pardons in the state hiring investigation, according to The Courier-Journal's latest Bluegrass Poll.

Nineteen percent of 609 adults surveyed said they think Fletcher, a Republican, should have granted the pardons, compared to 73 percent who said he should not have done so, according to the poll. The rest had no opinion or weren't sure.

"I'm sick over it," said Jackie Witzberger, 49, a Democrat from Richmond, who took part in the poll and agreed to a follow-up interview. "The law's the law, and it seems to me Fletcher took an oath to uphold that law, didn't he? Instead of blowing it off as not being important."

But John Wright, 59, a retired Jeffersontown resident and a Republican, said he agreed with the decision to pardon the nine current and former administration officials indicted on charges of filling jobs on the basis of politics, not qualifications.

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