DEMOCRATIC CHIEF HAS DRUG RECORD

Jerry Dale Johnson, who was appointed chairman of the Kentucky Democratic
Party last week, was convicted of cocaine possession in 1982, records show.

Johnson, who replaced Gov. Paul Patton's daughter as the party's top
official, said yesterday that he has never tried to hide the felony conviction.

"I have never defended the mistake and don't intend to," he said. "It was a
mistake, but I have always been open about it."

Patton was in Japan yesterday, but Denis Fleming, the governor's legal
counsel, said Patton had been aware of Johnson's past "for nearly seven years."

"Jerry was very forthcoming and brought it to his attention," Fleming said.

Patton, after carefully reviewing the matter, "was convinced that Jerry at
that time could make a positive contribution to the administration, which
he has," Fleming said.

Ellen Williams, chairman of the state Republican Party, appeared surprised
by the news.

"This is not a partisan issue, but I think this calls into question the
judgment of Governor Patton," Williams said. "This is a top political
position, and he serves at the pleasure of the governor. I find it troubling."

Records show Johnson was indicted Aug. 26, 1981, for trafficking in a
controlled substance after he allegedly sold an undercover state police
officer about 750 milligrams of cocaine for $110 on June 24 that year.

Police seized a container of cocaine from Johnson which records show was
flushed down a toilet after a jury convicted him in 1982 of possession of a
controlled substance.

The jury recommended a five-year prison term. The sentence, however, was
probated by Special Judge Robert Helton Jr. of Laurel County.

Johnson declined yesterday to discuss details of the case, but said firmly:
"I was not a cocaine dealer."

His civil rights were restored in 1987 by then-Gov. Martha Layne Collins.
His right to bear arms was restored by federal officials a year later after
then-prosecutor Ron Johnson said he had become "a constructive and
law-abiding citizen."

"I am as strongly in favor of him being restored his right to bear arms as
I was in the prosecution of him," said Ron Johnson said in a Sept. 2, 1988,
letter.

Fleming said the prosecutor's letter helped persuade Patton to hire Jerry
Dale Johnson, who said he has never sought a gubernatorial pardon.

The drug conviction has not been discussed in the media since he went to
work in July 1986 for former Harlan County Judge-Executive Delzinna
Belcher, Jerry Dale Johnson said. But many in Harlan County and elsewhere
knew about it, he said.

Johnson left his job as Belcher's top aide in 1995 to work for Patton's
campaign.

After Patton became governor, Johnson said he applied for a job in the new
administration. He indicated on his application, in detail, that he had
been convicted of a felony, Fleming said yesterday.

Johnson said he had expected the issue to surface before now.

"It's interesting to me it only becomes public in terms of the press after
a political appointment," he said. "I regret it. I'm sorry for it, but I
honestly do feel I've paid for it."