Scotty Baesler
Encyclopedia
Henry Scott Baesler is a Democratic politician and former Representative
from Kentucky
.
Baesler graduated from the University of Kentucky
in 1963 and from law school there in 1966. While at the University
, Baesler played basketball under legendary coach Adolph Rupp
. Over his final two seasons, Baesler maintained a per game average of 10.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, while shooting 83% from the foul line.
After graduating from law school, Baesler practiced law and served as an administrator for Legal Aid, Inc., a nonprofit entity that provides free legal services to indigent persons facing criminal charges. He later served as a District Court Judge in Fayette County
for some years before serving as mayor of Lexington from 1982 to 1993.
In 1991, Baesler ran for governor
in the Democratic primary and was narrowly defeated by Brereton Jones
, who won the general election.
In 1992, Baesler was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 6th Congressional district of Kentucky after 14-year Republican incumbent Larry Hopkins
retired; Hopkins had never recovered from being heavily defeated by Jones in the 1991 governor's race. He served there for three terms. He left his seat in 1998 to run for the Senate
seat of retiring Democratic whip Wendell Ford. Baesler won a narrow primary victory over Louisville
businessman Charlie Owen
and Lieutenant Governor
Steve Henry, but was very narrowly defeated in the general election by fellow congressman Jim Bunning
, a Republican. Baesler assumed early on that he had no chance of carrying Bunning's 4th District, based in the Cincinnati suburbs. He aired almost no ads in the Cincinnati television market. This came back to haunt Baesler in November, as Bunning swamped him in the 4th, winning by a margin that Baesler couldn't make up in the rest of the state. Baesler barely won his own district, which came as something of an embarrassment.
In 2000, Baesler tried to regain his House seat against the Republican who had replaced him, Ernie Fletcher
. Fletcher had lost badly to Baesler in 1996 after Baesler painted him as an extremist. However, by 2000 Baesler was badly wounded from his narrow loss to Bunning two years earlier. He wasn't helped when Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore
all but conceded Kentucky to Republican George W. Bush
in August (Bush went on to win Kentucky by 15 points). Earlier, all four of Lexington's TV stations pulled a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
ad for Baesler, claiming the ad falsely charged Fletcher with cutting funding for education. In the general election, Fletcher defeated Baesler by 18 points.
Scotty now has two children (Dudley, Ashley) and three Grandchildren (Fritts, Addie, Presley).
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Baesler graduated from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1963 and from law school there in 1966. While at the University
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Baesler played basketball under legendary coach Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
. Over his final two seasons, Baesler maintained a per game average of 10.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, while shooting 83% from the foul line.
After graduating from law school, Baesler practiced law and served as an administrator for Legal Aid, Inc., a nonprofit entity that provides free legal services to indigent persons facing criminal charges. He later served as a District Court Judge in Fayette County
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
for some years before serving as mayor of Lexington from 1982 to 1993.
In 1991, Baesler ran for governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
in the Democratic primary and was narrowly defeated by Brereton Jones
Brereton Jones
Brereton Chandler Jones is a horse breeder and politician from the US state of Kentucky. From 1987 to 1991, he served as lieutenant governor of Kentucky and from 1991 to 1995, he was the state's 58th governor...
, who won the general election.
In 1992, Baesler was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 6th Congressional district of Kentucky after 14-year Republican incumbent Larry Hopkins
Larry Hopkins
Larry Jones Hopkins represented Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for Governor of Kentucky in 1991 and lost to Brereton C. Jones....
retired; Hopkins had never recovered from being heavily defeated by Jones in the 1991 governor's race. He served there for three terms. He left his seat in 1998 to run for the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat of retiring Democratic whip Wendell Ford. Baesler won a narrow primary victory over Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
businessman Charlie Owen
Charlie Owen
Charlie Owen is a businessman residing in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned his bachelor's degree at Princeton University and his law degree at the University of Virginia. Owen worked as a federal prosecutor before Governor of Kentucky Edward T. Breathitt asked him to return to Kentucky to head the...
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
Steve Henry, but was very narrowly defeated in the general election by fellow congressman Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
, a Republican. Baesler assumed early on that he had no chance of carrying Bunning's 4th District, based in the Cincinnati suburbs. He aired almost no ads in the Cincinnati television market. This came back to haunt Baesler in November, as Bunning swamped him in the 4th, winning by a margin that Baesler couldn't make up in the rest of the state. Baesler barely won his own district, which came as something of an embarrassment.
In 2000, Baesler tried to regain his House seat against the Republican who had replaced him, Ernie Fletcher
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, 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 in that office...
. Fletcher had lost badly to Baesler in 1996 after Baesler painted him as an extremist. However, by 2000 Baesler was badly wounded from his narrow loss to Bunning two years earlier. He wasn't helped when Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
all but conceded Kentucky to Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in August (Bush went on to win Kentucky by 15 points). Earlier, all four of Lexington's TV stations pulled a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
ad for Baesler, claiming the ad falsely charged Fletcher with cutting funding for education. In the general election, Fletcher defeated Baesler by 18 points.
Scotty now has two children (Dudley, Ashley) and three Grandchildren (Fritts, Addie, Presley).