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New U of L Trustees Are Also Political Givers

Pile of Money
Getty Images/Ingram Publishing
Pile of Money

The 10 people who Gov. Matt Bevin named to the University of Louisville's Board of Trustees on Wednesday have been successful in business, law and medicine. Most of them share something else in common: They've donated to political campaigns in Kentucky in the recent past.

Here's whose campaigns they supported during the most recent election cycle (except where noted), according to data from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance:

John H. Schnatter of Louisville — founder of Papa John’s 

Of the group, Schnatter donated the largest amount to Republican Bevin’s campaign by far: $50,000 to Bevin’s inauguration fund in 2015 and $2,000 to Bevin’s campaign during last year’s primary and general election. He also gave $1,000 to support Hal Heiner’s bid for the Republican nomination for governor. In 2011, Schnatter donated to Democrat Steve Beshear’s re-election campaign against Republican David Williams.

Sandra Frazier of Louisville — CEO of Tandem Public Relations and a director of Brown-Forman 

Frazier contributed $1,000 each to Republican gubernatorial candidates James Comer and Hal Heiner last year. She gave $2,000 to Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes’ re-election campaign for secretary of state and $2,000 to Democrat Andy Beshear’s campaign for attorney general.

Nitin Sahney of Prospect — President and CEO of Omnicare 

No current information. Sahney gave $500 to Mayor Greg Fischer’s mayoral campaign in 2010.

Bonita K. Black of Crestwood — attorney at Steptoe & Johnson 

Black donated $1,000 to Bevin’s campaign for governor.

Douglas Cobb of Prospect — partner at Chrysalis Ventures, founder of Greater Louisville Inc. 

Cobb contributed $1,000 to Bevin’s gubernatorial primary opponent, Republican Hal Heiner.

Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Jr. of Louisville — restaurateur and owner of more than 100 Wendy’s franchises

Bridgeman donated $1,000 to Republican Bevin’s campaign for governor but also contributed $2,000 to Democrat Jack Conway’s campaign and $1,000 to Democrat Andy Beshear’s bid to become attorney general.

Dale J. Boden of Louisville — president of B F Capital 

Boden donated $1,000 to Democrat Jack Conway’s gubernatorial campaign and $1,500 to Democrat Andy Beshear’s campaign for attorney general.

Diane B. Medley of Ekron, Kentucky — partner of Mountjoy Chilton Medley CPA firm 

Medley contributed $1,000 to Bevin’s primary opponent Hal Heiner and $1,500 to Jack Conway’s campaign for governor.

J. David Grissom of Louisville — chairman and co-founder of Mayfair Capital 

No current information but he’s donated to Crit Luallen in the past.

Ronald L. Wright, MD, of Prospect —  OB/GYN at WomanCare 

No info on KREF.

Jonese Franklin

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