By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FRANKFORT - A Northern Kentucky resident will be named Monday to the No. 2 two post in the state Transportation Cabinet, Gov. Ernie Fletcher's office confirmed Friday, a move that could mean more highway dollars for the region.

Fletcher spokesman Wes Irvin would not say who will be named deputy Transportation Cabinet secretary other than revealing it is a Northern Kentucky resident.

But speculation was rampant among Kenton County and Republican Party sources that the position would go to Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd.

Murgatroyd was not available to comment Friday. He was in Lexington conducting interviews as a member of Fletcher's transition team, said Deputy Judge-executive Scott Kimmich.

Kimmich refused to comment on Murgatroyd's future.

Murgatroyd, 66, was elected to a second term last year. He is a former state representative who served with Fletcher in the Kentucky House of Representatives in the mid 1990s.

If he takes the job, Murgatroyd would be the first Northern Kentuckian to take a major role in Fletcher's administration. Fletcher had promised representation from the area.

In addition to being one of the leaders of Fletcher's transition team - the new governor was elected Nov. 4 and took office Dec. 9 - Murgatroyd was a key member of Fletcher's Northern Kentucky campaign.

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E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com