The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Harold Fletcher is a state Senate candidate who can rightly claim to have connections. He is, after all, Gov. Ernie Fletcher's brother.

"I can go to the governor. I think he'll answer the phone when I call," Harold Fletcher tells voters. "If he doesn't, I'll tell his mom."

Harold Fletcher, a Republican, had no opposition for his party's nomination. He will face one of two Democrats - former Gov. Julian Carroll or Versailles businessman Joe Graviss - after the May 18 primary.

The 7th Senate District - Franklin, Anderson, Woodford and part of Fayette County - has thousands of state government employees.

Ernie Fletcher's austerity measures since taking office included proposing a miniscule raise for state employees, suggesting a scenario in which disaffected voters would take it out on the governor's brother.

Harold Fletcher said he believed his brother's frequent statements about the state's deplorable revenues would be taken into account by voters.

Democrats "will try to create a backlash," he said in an interview. "I give the voter today a lot more credit for being savvy."

Like his brother, Harold Fletcher grew up in Lexington. He is an architect and a lay minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He was among church volunteers who built a children's playground in Jamaica earlier this year. Mission and service work "is part of my DNA, a part of my makeup," he said.