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Patton's chief officer plans to resign
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by The Associated Press
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FRANKFORT - Crit Luallen, who has led Gov. Paul Patton's management team, is resigning as cabinet secretary because turmoil from the governor's sex scandal and his resulting political vulnerability have made her work difficult.
"I have been profoundly disappointed over the last several months as attention has been diverted from the critical challenges facing the commonwealth," Luallen, secretary of Patton's executive Cabinet, said in a statement that she plans to release Monday.
"The personal issues that came to light last fall have created an atmosphere where it is increasingly difficult for me to do my job effectively. I believe a change in direction is best for me at this time," she said.
Luallen, 50, who has been with Patton's administration since its beginning in December 1995, said Saturday she has made no decision about what she will do when her resignation takes effect Wednesday.
Ed Ford, a former state senator from Cynthiana who has been deputy cabinet secretary, will become Patton's new cabinet secretary, said Rusty Cheuvront, the governor's press secretary.
Luallen said she had considered resigning last September when Patton acknowledged a two-year affair with western Kentucky businesswoman Tina Conner after initially denying it.
"I was deeply disturbed when all this broke last fall," Luallen said. "I told the governor before Thanksgiving that I was thinking about my future, and he said he understood."
Of Luallen's resignation, Patton said: "Her personal friendship means a great deal to me, and I deeply regret that my personal failure has made it impossible for her to continue in her position."
Luallen, of Frankfort, had been considered by some Democratic gubernatorial candidates, especially Attorney General Ben Chandler, as a possible running mate until the Patton scandal broke.
Luallen says she will not be a candidate for any public office this year. She also said her husband, Lynn Luallen, will stay on as chief executive of the Kentucky Housing Corp.
Luallen has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Virginia Gaines Fox, who retired last month as executive director and chief executive officer of the Kentucky Educational Television network.
Luallen said Saturday that she has not applied for the KET job.
She joined the Patton administration as deputy cabinet secretary, and was named cabinet secretary in August 1996 after Margaret Greene left the position.
Luallen was finance secretary and tourism secretary during Gov. Brereton Jones' administration and was arts commissioner for Gov. Martha Layne Collins.
She is a former president of the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership and senior public affairs manager for Humana Inc.
Ford called Luallen "a real leader." He said he was "flattered" to be named cabinet secretary. "It's a pretty great way for me to end my political career."
House budget chairman Harry Moberly Jr., D-Richmond, called Luallen "the principal administrator of this administration in terms of the day-to-day workings of government."
He especially praised her role in overseeing Patton's 1997 higher education reforms. |
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