By Joe Biesk
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Gov.-elect Ernie Fletcher Tuesday assigned a team of 22 people - many of whom contributed money to his gubernatorial campaign - to review specific cabinets within state government.

As "transition cabinet chairs," each was assigned a specific state cabinet to review during the transition period, Fletcher spokesman Wes Irvin said. All the people volunteered and will not be paid.

"This is not another Democratic administration going in," Irvin said. "To bring real change in a transition, you've got to take time to go in and see what's there."

Fletcher beat Democratic nominee Ben Chandler in last week's election, ending more than three consecutive decades of Democratic governors.

Last week Fletcher named Bruce Lunsford - a former candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination - to head a commission aimed at making state government more efficient. He also named Mike Duncan, an Inez banker and a member of the Republican National Committee, to head his transition team.

None of the people named Tuesday have been promised jobs in Fletcher's administration, Irvin said.

"Their service in this capacity neither guarantees or precludes their future service in state government," Irvin said in a written statement. "No promises have been made."

Still, at least 11 of the 22 people contributed money to Fletcher's general election campaign, according to records filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Nine of those contributors gave Fletcher the maximum campaign donation of $1,000, according to finance records.

They will help out in a "pretty intense" review of state government, analyze it and then report back, Duncan said.

"They are here to listen, learn and prepare a briefing book for the incoming secretaries," Duncan said during an impromptu news conference.

Corbin accountant Nancy Mitchell and John Williams, president of CSI in Paducah, were assigned the Finance and Administration and the Revenue cabinets.

Former state legislator Pat Friebert and Lexington attorney Fred Karem will review the Personnel Cabinet; while attorney Ed Glasscock and Hilda Legg, an administrator at the Rural Utilities Service, will monitor the Economic Development Cabinet.