By Lisa Autry / Angela Hatton
Louisville, KY – Kentucky senate president David Williams will have to work to retain his leadership post next year. State senator Julie Denton of Louisville says she will challenge her fellow republican when leadership elections are held in January. Williams has been senate president since 2000. He tells the Courier-Journal he plans to seek re-election as president and doesn't consider a challenge by Denton a serious threat. Denton, however, says she wouldn't be seeking the post if she didn't feel confident of her chances. She declined to say how many republicans are backing her.
"This is an internal Senate decision and we'll have that decision about the pros and cons of each candidate amongst ourselves and I'm not going to do that publically."
To seek the Senate presidency, Denton will first have to win re-election to her seat in the fall when she is opposed by democrat Rick Hiles. Denton has been in the Kentucky Senate since 1995 and chairs the health and welfare committee.
Republican Senator Ken Winters doesn't think Denton will take the Senate presidency from Williams. Winters has backed Williams in previous sessions, and says he would likely vote for him again. Winters says the scope of the Senate president's job is more than running the Senate. The leader must also travel around the country for fundraising and campaigns. Winters says he's comfortable with the leadership Williams has provided.