Tom Loftus

@TomLoftus_CJ

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Papa John's founder John Schnatter and his wife gave a combined $20,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky last month – the maximum amount a couple is permitted to give to a political party in a one-year period.

The contributions were made on July 29, a month after Schnatter was appointed to the new University of Louisville Board of Trustees by Gov. Matt Bevin.

The Schnatter contributions were one reason the RPK had another successful fundraising month in July – raising $151,000 in contributions, according to a report the party filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission. At the end of July the party reported it had more than $1.6 million on hand.

The party recently began spending its money on advertising for its candidates in races for the Kentucky House. The Democrats hold a 53-47 majority in that chamber, and the RPK's priority this fall is to win a majority in the House.

Others besides the Schnatters who contributed $10,000 to the Kentucky Republican Party in July, according to the FEC report, were: John W. Landrum, of Harrodsburg, retired; Henry R. Saufley III, Stanford, owner of Builders Supply; Pam Stephens, Russell Springs, bookkeeper and accountant for Stephens Pipe & Steel; James Stuckert, Prospect, partner with Hilliard Lyons; Diane Stuckert, Prospect, retired; E. Duncan Taylor, Lexington, of Taylor Made Farms; Sherry Wilburn, Eubank, homemaker; William A. Wilburn, Eubank, president of Cumberland Security Bank.

Many other contributors who gave smaller amounts are listed in the report.

The Kentucky Republican Party was far ahead of the Kentucky Democratic Party in cash as of the end of June. But as of Friday evening, the Democratic Party's report listing contributions for July had not yet been posted on the website of the FEC.