Lawmaker files plan to eliminate costly runoff

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Had Gov. Ernie Fletcher or Democrat Steve Beshear not won their respective primaries, there would have been a runoff election that could have cost taxpayers up to $7 million.

That would have taken place Tuesday - a day one state lawmaker said he was observing by filing legislation to abolish runoffs for good.

State Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he would sponsor legislation in the 2008 General Assembly that would eliminate possible runoffs in governor's race primaries. Secretary of State Trey Grayson, a Republican, said he supported the idea.

Fletcher, a Republican, and Beshear won their respective primaries outright by each receiving more than 40 percent of the vote.

A runoff would have cost the state about $1 million and the counties between $4 million and $6 million.