06:01 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 31, 2006

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence is dropping off the Republican ticket. He won't be Governor Ernie Fletcher’s running mate next year. Some are saying that pence bailing out is a sign that the governor should not run for re-election.

Pence plans to quit as state justice secretary August 1 and leave the lieutenant governor's chair when his term's up next December.

“I have decided I will not be a candidate for re-election to the office of lieutenant governor in 2007,” Pence said at a news conference Wednesday.

Also Online

View this story

There's been some speculation Pence might run for governor against Fletcher, which he denies.

Pence has disagreed with Fletcher on a number of issues, beginning with Fletcher’s pardons of political allies last August. Pence also has five kids and his squeaky-clean reputation as a lawyer was being tarnished by the Fletcher administration's troubles.

“It really cripples the administration. It’s a statement that maybe the administration doesn’t function as well as we all expected, so it hurts the commonwealth of Kentucky as a whole,” said Rep. Larry Clark (D-Louisville).

Former Courier-Journal political reporter Al Cross says it’s over for Fletcher. “This was a public confirmation of that, when your running mate abandons the ticket.”

Fletcher is on vacation. His spokesman read a statement saying the governor understands Pence’s decision and it won't have any bearing on his reelection bid.

“This gives us resolve to move forward,” said the governor’s spokesman Brett Hall.

Republican Senate President David Williams says he can't believe Fletcher didn't ask Pence to resign immediately: “It’s nothing personal I have against Lt. Governor Pence, it’s just that he seems to have lost his fervor.”

Pence makes about $99,000 per year as lieutenant governor. Fletcher promised to have an LG who would earn his pay. But Pence will have few official duties for the next 18 months.

Pence will still oversee the Office of Homeland Security and the Kentucky Sports Commission.

Republican insiders expect Fletcher to pick his Secretary of the Cabinet, Robbie Rudolph as his new running mate.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.