KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey spent $24,000 to send 45,000 mailers to voters in the eastern part of the state and did so using public funds.

Ramsey's deputy chief of staff, Lance Frizzell, told The Kingsport Times-News that the mailer is a "franked piece," meaning taxpayers footed the bill for the mailing as an official communication of the office.

The mail piece described Ramsey "Listening. Working. Fighting for Us."

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester noted the mail piece appears legal, but he questioned Ramsey's ethics because the lieutenant governor is forbidden to raise money while the legislature is in session.

The mail piece does not mention the governor's race, but Ramsey agreed its talking points are similar to those used in an election campaign.

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Information from: Kingsport Times-News, http://www.timesnews.net

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