Ernie Fletcher
| Ernie Fletcher | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 60th Governor of Kentucky | |
|
In office December 9, 2003 – December 11, 2007 |
|
| Lieutenant | Steve Pence |
| Preceded by | Paul Patton |
| Succeeded by | Steve Beshear |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 6th district |
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In office January 3, 1999 – December 8, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Scotty Baesler |
| Succeeded by | Ben Chandler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ernest Lee Fletcher November 12, 1952 Mount Sterling, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Glenna Foster |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Awards |
Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 U.S. Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1974–1980 |
| Rank |
 Captain
|
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) is an American physician and politician. In 1998, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th Governor of Kentucky and served until 2007. Prior to his entry into politics, Fletcher was a family practice physician and a Baptist lay minister. He is the second physician to be elected Governor of Kentucky; the first was Luke P. Blackburn in 1879. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Fletcher graduated from the University of Kentucky and joined the United States Air Force to pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut. He left the Air Force after budget cuts reduced his squadron's flying time and earned a degree in medicine, hoping to earn a spot as a civilian on a space mission. Deteriorating eyesight eventually ended those hopes, and he entered private practice as a physician and conducted services as a Baptist lay minister. He became active in politics and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1994. Two years later he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but lost to incumbent Scotty Baesler. When Baesler retired to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate, Fletcher again ran for the congressional seat and defeated Democratic state senator Ernesto Scorsone. He soon became one of the House Republican caucus' top advisors regarding health care legislation, particularly the Patients' Bill of Rights.
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