The decision by the Executive Branch Ethics Commission to end its investigation of Gov. Ernie Fletcher without bringing charges was driven by partisan politics, the one Democrat involved in that decision said yesterday.

"From my position there have been numerous decisions within the past year which have been partisan action, or inaction," said Cynthia Stone, a Louisville attorney whose term expired last month.

Asked if the decision to end the Fletcher investigation was one of those, Stone said, "Absolutely. From my perspective that's what it appeared to be."

She declined to elaborate because the commission's key deliberations occurred in closed sessions.