Parties Select Senate Candidates

On November 27th, Senate Republicans will elect a new leader, who is expected to then become Senate president when lawmakers convene in early January for the 2013 legislative session. Candidates for the top spot include Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, and Senator Robert Leeper, an independent from Paducah. Former Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, vacated the seat after being appointed to an open circuit court judgeship by Governor Steve Beshear.

State Representative Sara Beth Gregory, R-Monticello, will face Democrat Bill Conn, a Williamsburg teacher and a first-time candidate, in a December 18th special election for an open state Senate seat. Democratic and Republican party officials from the 16th Senate District, which includes Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Monroe, Wayne and Whitley counties, nominated Gregory and Conn at separate meetings late Thursday evening.