Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 8, 2011



The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The Kentucky Constitution empowers the governor to grant pardons, veto legislation, and call the legislature into session. He or she serves as commander-in-chief of the Kentucky National Guard and is charged with enforcing the state's laws. The officeholder is given broad authority to make appointments to the cabinets and departments of the executive branch, limited somewhat by the adoption of a merit system in 1960. Fifty-six men and one woman have held the office. The governor's term is four years in length, and since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once before becoming ineligible for four years. Kentucky is one of five U.S. states that hold gubernatorial elections in odd-numbered years; the others are Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, and New Jersey. The incumbent governor, Democrat Steve Beshear, is seeking re-election on November 8, 2011. His opponent is Republican David L. Williams, who is currently president of the state senate. (more...)

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