High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Ernest Lee ("Ernie") Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) is a physician and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served as the 60th Governor of Kentucky from 2003 to 2007, losing his re-election bid to Democrat Steve Beshear. Prior to being elected governor, Fletcher served as U.S. Representative from Kentucky's 6th Congressional District and as a state representative from Lexington, Kentucky.