Registry of Election Finance elects Chair and Vice Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sarah M. Jackson
                     Executive Director
                     Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
                     Tele: (502) 573-2226

KENTUCKY REGISTRY OF ELECTION FINANCE ELECTS CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

At its September 15 meeting, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance unanimously re-elected John C. Rogers, a Glasgow attorney, to serve as chair, and Sam P. Burchett, a Lexington attorney, to serve as vice chair. Both were re-appointed to 4-year terms on the registry earlier this month.

Rogers, a Democrat, was appointed to serve on the registry by Governor Paul Patton from names forwarded by the executive committee of the Democratic Party of Kentucky. Burchett, a Republican, was appointed from names submitted by the executive committee of the Republican Party of Kentucky. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Kentucky State Senate.

The re-election of Rogers and Burchett to these positions follows an earlier practice insisted on by Rogers, that of including in leadership positions representation of each major state party. “Sam and I approach our roles at the Registry very much as a team, and our leadership is truly reflective of the collective and broad experiences shared by all members of the board. We are grateful to the Registry Members for entrusting this responsibility to us.”

Sarah Jackson, executive director of the registry, said Rogers and Burchett “make a great team, bringing balance and fairness at a critical time. The commonwealth is fortunate to have individuals of their caliber in such key leadership roles.”

Rogers is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky College of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Rogers served in various legal and administrative capacities with the Finance & Administration Cabinet and with Governor Wallace Wilkinson's office. He has served as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 43^rd judicial circuit comprised of Barren and Metcalfe counties. He's a member of the Barren County, Kentucky and American Bar Associations and the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. Rogers also serves on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, the non-profit organization that is the charitable arm of the Kentucky Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rogers was a delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention and has previously served as chair of the Barren County Democratic Party.

Burchett holds undergraduate and graduate degrees ( M.B.A. and J.D.) from the University of Kentucky. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Journal of Mineral Law and Policy and served on its initial staff. He is the Kentucky Bar Association governing member Trustee of the Energy and Mineral Foundation and serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the executive committee of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation.

Burchett served as Sixth Congressional District Chairman for the Republican Party of Kentucky, and has served on the executive committees of the state and county republican parties. He has also served as a precinct chair.

The registry is charged with administering Kentucky’s campaign finance laws, including those relating to gubernatorial slates and statewide candidates who are running for election this year. Kentucky law requires the disclosure by a gubernatorial slate or candidate of contributions to and expenditures by the campaign.

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