by , @TomLoftus_CJ –

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(Photo: The courier-Journal)

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three members of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees who for several years were among the biggest contributors to the Kentucky Democratic Party gave as much money as the law allows in February to the Republican Party of Kentucky.

William C. Britton, of Louisville, Edward Britt Brockman, also of Louisville, and Frank Shoop, of Lexington, each gave $10,000 to the RPK in February according to the party’s monthly finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Each gave the same amount last year to the Kentucky Democratic Party. And each gave many previous big donations to the Democratic Party during the administration of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who appointed the three to the UK Board of Trustees.

Federal law limits to $10,000 the amount any person can give in one year to a political party’s committee registered with the FEC.

During last fall’s campaign for governor, some Republicans were critical of the large contributions from Beshear’s university board appointees to the Democratic Party.

Also in February, lobbyist David Whitehouse, of Lexington, who also gave $10,000 to the Kentucky Democratic Party last year, is listed as giving $10,000 to the RPK.

The RPK’s report showed that in February it raised $302,144 in contributions and reported having a huge balance of $1,260,793 on hand as of Feb. 29 with $12,890 in debts owed. This compares to $166,513 raised in contributions during the month by the Kentucky Democratic Party. The Kentucky Democratic Party reported having $88,474 on hand as of Feb. 29.

Despite the big fundraising advantage enjoyed by the RPK, the Democrats won three of four special elections for vacancies in the Kentucky House on March 8.

  • Besides Britton, Brockman, Shoop and Whitehouse, others listed as giving $10,000 to the RPK in February were:
  • William P. Butler, Cincinnati, Corporex Companies, chairman.
  • Angela Correll, Stanford, housewife.
  • Jess Correll, Stanford, First Southern National Bank, president.
  • David Ligon, Nashville, 166 Research, executive.
  • John T. McCarthy III, Louisville, lobbyist.
  • W. Larkin Ritter, Bowling Green, Scott & Ritter, president.
  • James D. Scott, Bowling Green, Scotty’s Contracting, road contractor.
  • William M. Street, Louisville, retired.
  • Dace Brown Stubbs, Vero Beach, Florida, retired.
  • Alva Sullivan, Prospect, Sullivan College, president.
  • Woodford Webb, Lexington, Webb Companies, attorney.