Charlie Owen
Encyclopedia
Charlie Owen is a businessman residing in Louisville, Kentucky
. He earned his bachelor's degree at Princeton University
and his law degree at the University of Virginia
. Owen worked as a federal prosecutor
before Governor of Kentucky
Edward T. Breathitt
asked him to return to Kentucky
to head the state crime
commission. In that capacity Owen worked under three different governors (two Democrats, one Republican) and played a major role in enacting Kentucky's penal code, medical examiner system, law enforcement training programs and a host of other accomplishments.
Owen then left state government to go into business and built a considerable fortune in cable television
and real estate development, among other interests.
Charlie Owen first sought elective office in 1994 when he ran for the open seat in Kentucky's Third Congressional District. Owen finished second in the Democratic primary behind state representative Mike Ward
by only 1,400 votes. This was in spite of have spent $800,000 to Ward's $150,000. Ward went on to win the general election.
In 1998 Owen ran for the United States Senate
seat being vacated by Wendell H. Ford
and placed a close second in the Democratic primary, winning 166,472 votes (29.3%). Owen finished behind Congressman Scotty Baesler
who won 194,125 votes (34.2%) but ahead of Lieutenant Governor
Steve Henry who won 156,576 votes (27.6%).
In 2003 Owen considered running for Governor of Kentucky
but instead slated with Ben Chandler
as Chandler's running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
. Chandler and Owen won 484,931 votes (45.0%) to 593,489 (55.0%) for Ernie Fletcher
and Steve Pence
.
Owen was among those Democrats discussed as a potential candidate for U.S. Senator in 2008 against Mitch McConnell
.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. He earned his bachelor's degree at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and his law degree at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Owen worked as a federal prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
before Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
Edward T. Breathitt
Edward T. Breathitt
Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A member of one of the state's political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967...
asked him to return to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
to head the state crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
commission. In that capacity Owen worked under three different governors (two Democrats, one Republican) and played a major role in enacting Kentucky's penal code, medical examiner system, law enforcement training programs and a host of other accomplishments.
Owen then left state government to go into business and built a considerable fortune in cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
and real estate development, among other interests.
Charlie Owen first sought elective office in 1994 when he ran for the open seat in Kentucky's Third Congressional District. Owen finished second in the Democratic primary behind state representative Mike Ward
Mike Ward (Kentucky Congressman)
Michael Delavan "Mike" Ward is a former one-term congressman of the United States House of Representatives. He was a Democrat from Kentucky....
by only 1,400 votes. This was in spite of have spent $800,000 to Ward's $150,000. Ward went on to win the general election.
In 1998 Owen ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat being vacated by Wendell H. Ford
Wendell H. Ford
Wendell Hampton Ford is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate and was the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. He was the first person to be successively elected lieutenant governor, governor, and U.S. senator in Kentucky history...
and placed a close second in the Democratic primary, winning 166,472 votes (29.3%). Owen finished behind Congressman Scotty Baesler
Scotty Baesler
Henry Scott Baesler is a Democratic politician and former Representative from Kentucky.Baesler graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1963 and from law school there in 1966. While at the University, Baesler played basketball under legendary coach Adolph Rupp...
who won 194,125 votes (34.2%) but ahead of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
Steve Henry who won 156,576 votes (27.6%).
In 2003 Owen considered running for Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
but instead slated with Ben Chandler
Ben Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
as Chandler's running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
. Chandler and Owen won 484,931 votes (45.0%) to 593,489 (55.0%) for Ernie Fletcher
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
and Steve Pence
Steve Pence
Stephen B. Pence was the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He took office with fellow Republican Ernie Fletcher in December 2003.-Education:...
.
Owen was among those Democrats discussed as a potential candidate for U.S. Senator in 2008 against Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
.