By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – A published report says Alliance Coal employees were among the biggest donors in Kentucky's primary election campaign. The Courier-Journal reviewed campaign contributions that candidates filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance and found that 10 employees of Alliance, along with their spouses, donated a total of $60,000 to three candidates - Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes for secretary of state, Republican Todd P'Pool for attorney general and Republican David Williams for governor. Alliance spokesman Cason P. Carter says it is up to employees whether to be politically active and he didn't find the contributions unusual. The campaigns said they believe the candidates received the contributions because of their support for the coal industry.