Regulator for Gov. Bevin’s office resigns from super PAC

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A top regulator from Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration has resigned as a director of Kentucky’s major Republican super PAC after a newspaper inquired about potential conflicts in holding both roles.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/1XzM1gU ) reports that K. Gail Russell resigned Wednesday as director of the super PAC Kentuckians for Strong Leadership.

Russell is the deputy secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet, overseeing banking, insurance, horse racing and other business.

Ethics watchdog Richard Beliles, chairman of Common Cause of Kentucky, said Tuesday that a top official who regulates companies that historically have been big donors to political campaigns shouldn’t also run a super PAC.

Jessica Ditto, a spokeswoman for Bevin’s office, says Russell wasn’t legally obligated to resign from the super PAC board, but did so in order to prevent any suspicions of there being a conflict of interest.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.