Ernest Lee Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) has served as governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Fletcher was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Engineering in 1974 and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

He served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.

After receiving his medical degree, he practiced as a family physician for twelve years. He has also served as a Baptist lay minister.

Fletcher was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives for the 78th District in 1995. He held this office until he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the 6th District in 1998.

He became governor of Kentucky in December 2003 after defeating Democrat Ben Chandler 55%-45% in the election the previous month.

On June 9, 2004, while enroute to memorial services for former President Ronald Reagan, the Governor's plane inadvertently caused a security scare and was nearly shot down by the U.S. Air Force.

Fletcher was plagued by poor approval ratings for much of his first year in office, with conflicts ranging from Fletcher's calling a special election almost immediately after a beloved Democratic state senator's death to the amount of money spent on refurbishing the governor's mansion. Most of the controversy focused on cutting healthcare for state employees. His own brother picketed outside the capitol to protest the plan. In November 2004 some called for Fletcher's medical license to be revoked after he signed a death warrant.

Governor Fletcher is married to his high school sweetheart, Glenna Foster. They have two children and four grandchildren.

External links

• Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky