By Bill Bartleman bbartleman@paducahsun.com--270.575.8651

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

State Rep. Frank Rasche, D-Paducah, said he will resign his House seat to accept a position as a policy adviser and legislative liaison in the Kentucky Department of Education.

He anticipates resigning by the middle of August but said the timetable depends on how long it takes to process his employment paperwork. "I've been offered a job and have accepted the job, but won't resign until I'm sure everything is finalized," Rasche said. He doesn't anticipate any problems but said the paperwork can take up to four weeks to process.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education confirmed Rasche has spoken with Commissioner Jon Draud about accepting a top-level position. Lisa Gross said there could be an announcement in a few days.

Rasche was first elected to the 3rd District House in 1992 and has been chairman of the House Education Committee since 1999. He also is a former member of the Paducah Board of Education.

The seat is expected to remain vacant for the rest of the year because no legislative sessions are scheduled. Lawmakers meet between sessions to study issues but have no authority to take official action.

The district encompasses the city of Paducah and McCracken precincts of Williams, Farley, Woodlawn, Hovekamp, Hendron 1, Hendron 4, Cherokee, Lone Oak 1, Lone Oak 2, Rolling Hills, Concord and Cecil.

A special election would cost at least $20,000, according to McCracken County Clerk Jeff Jerrell.

Republican and Democrat executive committees in McCracken County will each have a chance to nominate a candidate for the Nov. 4 ballot with the winner taking office in January when the next session begins.

Democrats expressing an interest are Paducah City Commissioner Gerald Watkins, McCracken County Commissioner Zana Renfro and former McCracken County party chairman Glenn Denton.

No Republican names have surfaced, but that could change as news of Rasche's pending resignation becomes public. Bruce Brockenborough, a Republican who challenged Rasche two years ago, said he isn't interested.

"My job in politics this year is to do everything I can to get Mayor (Bill) Paxton reelected," Brockenborough said.

The deadline for picking candidates is Aug. 12 to get the names on the November ballot. Rasche said he'll do all he can to make sure that deadline is met even if it means resigning before he begins his new job.

Dan Boaz, chairman of McCracken County Democrats, said his party's nominee could be picked at the executive committee's regular meeting on Aug. 9.

Watkins said he learned of Rasche's pending resignation on Friday when he received a telephone call from House Speaker Jody Richards. Watkins said he has contacted most members of the executive committee to let them know of his interest. He is completing his first term on the city commission and is a candidate for re-election in November.

"Being close to the speaker would help in getting choice committee assignments and getting things done for the district," Watkins said. If he received the nomination, he would withdraw as a city commission candidate.

Renfro said Rasche called her over the weekend to inform her of his intent to resign. "Running for the legislature is of great interest to me," Renfro said. "Taking my experience as a county commissioner and city commissioner to Frankfort would benefit the district." Renfro was a city commissioner from 1993-98.

Denton has not made a decision but is interested.

"I am very concerned about the loss of leadership in western Kentucky," Denton said.

Two years ago, Rep. J.R. Gray of Benton was chairman of the Labor Committee and Rep. Mike Cherry of Princeton was chairman of the State Government Committee. Gray resigned last year, which left Cherry as the region's only House committee chairman.

Draud was appointed commissioner last year after serving nearly a decade in the General Assembly.