Billy Harper has tentatively scheduled an event in the Capitol Rotunda on Nov. 15. I presume he'll officially announce his candidacy for governor, just a few steps away from Governor Fletcher's office.

Brereton Jones could announce his candidacy for Governor as early as Nov. 8, the day after the election. That's assuming Jones runs. Jones, Crit Luallen, Ben Chandler, Jack Conway, Terry McBrayer and perhaps others are supposed to be getting together immediately after Tuesday's election to decide what the Democrats "good government" ticket will look like. Conway hinted that he might be a part of a ticket on WAVE-TV's Hot Button program where he squares off with Republican lawyer Jim Milliman on political issues.

If Jones runs, expect him to get beat up by the National Guard pay-for-promotion scandal. Those TV ads that Ron Lewis is running, tying Mike Weaver to the scandal are nothing compared to what would hit Jones. Remember, National Guardsmen were being shaken down to contribute money to the Jones for Governor campaign in 1991. There's no proof Jones knew anything about it, but there wasn't any proof that Weaver was directly involved either.