Issues surrounding the Aug. 14 blackout have surfaced in Kentucky's gubernatorial race.

Democrat Ben Chandler is leveling criticism at Republican Ernie Fletcher, a congressman from Lexington, for supporting President Bush's energy bill. Lawmakers have been debating the bill for two years but have been unable to agree on a final draft.

Democrats in Washington and Kentucky have maintained that passage of the bill will lead to higher electric rates. Chandler sought to make that point in Wednesday's Northern Kentucky gubernatorial forum, saying Fletcher "voted to raise our energy rates in Kentucky."

Fletcher countered by saying that without the energy bill, utility rates will rise, "especially in Kentucky, because we have the lowest energy rates" in the country. But he added that he would not support the final version of the bill if, in fact, it would cause rates to increase.

Democrats say the bill will also allow for utility deregulation. That will drive up rates in Kentucky and could lead, they claim, to poorer delivery of electricity to consumers.

The Chandler camp is also making hay over Fletcher's upcoming Monday campaign fund-raiser in Cincinnati that will feature a visit from Vice President Dick Cheney, the Bush administration's point man on energy.

"Cheney won't come to Kentucky," said Chandler campaign chairman Mark Nickolas. "He doesn't want to have to talk about the economy and (energy) deregulation."

Chandler is holding a big fund-raiser of his own tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Erlanger home of Phil Taliaferro. The event features more than 500 co-hosts, including U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat.

Callahan successors

With Kentucky House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan set to retire at the end of his term, the names of a few potential successors have surfaced.

Callahan, the region's most influential lawmaker and a Wilder Democrat who has served in Frankfort since 1986, plans to step down at the end of next year.

Campbell County Commissioner Ken Rechtin, a Newport Democrat, said Thursday he is interested.

"I would never run against Jim," said Rechtin, a former Newport City Commissioner. "But I would be honored to run for his seat when he does retire."

Democrats said Wilder City Commissioner Dennis Keene has also mentioned running.

Campbell County Republicans have long said they want to go after Callahan's seat when he leaves office, but no names emerged Thursday. The heavily Democratic district covers Newport, Dayton, Bellevue and Wilder.

Callahan has been instrumental in bringing several projects to the region, including the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, the Kentucky Speedway, Newport on the Levee and Hofbrauhaus, the NKU science building, the Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Newport and community centers in Southgate and Bellevue.

He also sponsored legislation toughening drunken-driving laws and revamping Kentucky's higher education system.

Hemmer development

Look for Paul Hemmer Cos., a Fort Mitchell-based developer, to unveil plans as early as next week for a new 100-acre office and industrial park in Richwood just off Interstate 75 in Boone County.

E-mail Patrick Crowley at pcrowley@enquirer.com