Challenger accuses state treasurer of mismanagement in KET debate

A Hopkinsville businessman who is challenging incumbent state Treasurer Todd Hollenbach in the May 17 Democratic primary election accused Hollenbach on Monday night of mismanaging the office and not showing up for work much of the time.

"About the only person who has had a worse year is Tiger Woods. But Todd's had the opportunity to play more golf than Tiger has," said Steve Hamrick, who worked in state government for about 20 years and has been a Disciples of Christ Christian minister for the last 25 years.

The two Democrats traded jabs during a live, statewide discussion on Kentucky Educational Television's Kentucky Tonight with host Bill Goodman.

Earlier in the evening, the Republican candidates for state auditor — Lexington developer John T. Kemper III and state Rep. Addia Wuchner of Florence — discussed their campaigns in a more subdued manner.

In discussing the treasurer's race, Hamrick referred to an audit by state Auditor Crit Luallen that raised questions about security risks in the office's computer system and political blogs that contend Hollenbach often is absent from work.

Hollenbach said Luallen's audit showed he has run a "clean" office. He said that there are no significant problems with the office's computer system and that he spends ample time at work and is not a regular golfer.

Hollenbach said that he played golf one time last year in a charity scramble and that he doesn't have a handicap.

Hollenbach contended he is running the "most cost-effective agency" in state government with limited resources.

He noted that he didn't hire a press liaison, and eliminated his state car and travel budget and the office's legal and janitorial services, "even taking turns cleaning restrooms."

The state treasurer records and monitors the state's financial transactions. The treasurer also is a member of the state lottery board and the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement Systems board, administrator of the state's unclaimed property fund program and vice chairman of the state investment commission.

The winner in the Democratic primary for treasurer will face Republican KC Crosbie, a member of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, in November. She has no primary opposition.

In discussing the role of the auditor's office, which audits the accounts and financial transactions of all state spending agencies, Wuchner said she would like to increase performance audits that review how well an agency or program is doing its job.

Kemper said he would like to see more scrutiny of how federal entitlements to the state are spent.

Asked to identify an important state audit, Wuchner mentioned Luallen's audits of the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, which showed financial improprieties.

Kemper said no officeholder in those agencies was charged with wrongdoing, noting that the auditor's office has been held by Democrats for 40 years.

The winner in the GOP race for auditor will face Democrat Adam Edelen of Lexington in November's general election. Edelen, who is unopposed in the primary election, is former chief of staff for Gov. Steve Beshear.

Monday night's discussion with candidates who have opposition in the May 17 primary was KET's first for this campaign season.

This story was originally published April 12, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Challenger accuses state treasurer of mismanagement in KET debate."