Judge Mary Noble Kicks Off Her Campaign for Supreme Court

Fayette Circuit Judge Mary Noble launched her campaign for the Supreme Court.  She already has the support of former Justice Jame Keller - the seat she is now running for against Governor Fletcher's appointee, Justice John Roach.  She also proposed campaign limits with Roach deferring comment until he read her letter.

From Kentucky.com / Herald-Leader:

Judge begins high court bid 14 months before election
By Ryan Alessi
HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

Fayette Circuit Judge Mary Noble yesterday launched her campaign for the Kentucky Supreme Court against the state's newest justice, John Roach, in what promises to be the most closely watched, high-powered and potentially expensive judicial race next year.

With 14 months until the election, the undertones of the campaign are rich with drama.

It pits Noble, the longtime Lexington judge, against Gov. Ernie Fletcher's former general counsel, Roach, appointed by the governor in June to fill the spot of retiring Justice James Keller.

While Roach already has received the governor's endorsement, Noble brings with her at least two of Fletcher's key financial backers, developer Don Ball and banker Luther Deaton.

And Keller also has signed on as a co-chairman of Noble's campaign.

"If they back me, I can't be all bad can I?" Noble said jokingly to a crowd of more than 80 supporters who attended her first campaign event in front of the Old Fayette Courthouse yesterday.

Noble later made stops in each of the 11 counties of the court's 5th District.

She also issued a challenge to Roach to cap the campaign spending.

Reading from her handwritten speech contained in a small, three-ring binder, Noble said people have more important causes to which they could donate money, such as funds for Hurricane Katrina victims.

"You can look around you and find all kinds of ways to spend a dollar better than you could on a campaign," she said.

She said later she would send a letter to Roach this week asking him to discuss the issue. She said she didn't have a capped amount in mind.

Roach said yesterday that he will respond to Noble when he gets the letter but wouldn't hint at his answer.

"I certainly plan on running hard in the election next year, as hard as I can," he said. "But it seems a bit early to start campaigning."

Roach declined to comment on Noble's support from Ball, Keller and Deaton.

Deaton said yesterday that he had told the governor early on he would back Noble, whom he grew up with in Breathitt County.