List of governors of Kentucky
| Governor of Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Kentucky | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Kentucky Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, two consecutive with four year pause thereafter |
| Inaugural holder | Isaac Shelby |
| Formation | June 4, 1792 |
| Salary | $153,970 (2013)[1] |
| Website | governor.ky.gov |
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of Kentucky's state government,[2] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;[4] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky Legislature;[5] the power to convene the legislature;[6] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[7] He or she is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.[8]
Fifty-eight individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary, and A. B. "Happy" Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed.
William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.[9] Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.[8]
The 62nd and current governor is Republican Matt Bevin, who took office on December 8, 2015.
Governors
Kentucky was initially Kentucky County in Virginia. It achieved statehood and was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792; see the list of governors of Virginia for the period before statehood. There have been 57 governors, serving 61 distinct terms.
An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors (listed separately), but it never held much control over the state, and the main line of governors was preserved.
The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years.[10] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, and prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms.[11] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years.[12] A 1992 amendment to the constitution allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.[13]
- Parties
Democratic (35) Democratic-Republican (9) Know Nothing (1) National Republican (2) Republican (9) Whig (6)
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Confederate governors
During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at the Russellville, Kentucky to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While this government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861 to his death on April 8, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.[15]
Other high offices held
This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Kentucky except where noted.
- * Denotes those offices for which the governor resigned the governorship.
In addition, one Confederate governor, Richard Hawes, served as a U.S. Representative.[16]
Living former governors of Kentucky
As of January 2016[update], there are seven living former governors of Kentucky, the oldest being Julian M. Carroll (served 1974–1979, born 1931). The most recent governor to die was Wendell H. Ford (served 1971–1974, born 1924), on January 22, 2015. The most recently serving governor to die was Wallace G. Wilkinson (served 1987–1991, born 1941), who died on July 5, 2002.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
|---|---|---|
| Julian M. Carroll | 1974–1979 | April 16, 1931 |
| John Y. Brown, Jr. | 1979–1983 | December 28, 1933 |
| Martha Layne Collins | 1983–1987 | December 7, 1936 |
| Brereton C. Jones | 1991–1995 | June 27, 1939 |
| Paul E. Patton | 1995–2003 | May 26, 1937 |
| Ernie Fletcher | 2003–2007 | November 12, 1952 |
| Steve Beshear | 2007–2015 | September 21, 1944 |
See also
Notes
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created by the second Kentucky Constitution, ratified in 1799.[14]
- ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
- ^ a b c d Died in office.
- ^ a b c d e As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to be Attorney General of the United States
- ^ Resigned due to his disagreement with the state legislature over the American Civil War; he espoused neutrality.
- ^ As president of the senate, filled unexpired term.
- ^ a b c d As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
- ^ a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ As president of the senate, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ a b William S. Taylor was sworn into office, but the legislature challenged the validity of his election win, claiming ballot fraud. William Goebel, his challenger in the election, was shot on January 30, 1900. The next day, the legislature named Goebel governor. However, Goebel died from his wounds three days later. Taylor fled the state and never returned, and was pardoned by Governor Augustus Willson in 1909.
- ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term until elected to fill it in a special election.
- ^ Resigned to take an appointed seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ Governor Bevin's term expires on December 10, 2019. He is not yet term limited.
References
- General
- "Kentucky's Governors". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- "Governors of Kentucky". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- "Texts of the Constitutions of Kentucky". Kentucky Court of Justice. Archived from the original on 2010-03-18. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- Constitution
- "Kentucky Constitution". Kentucky Legislature. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- "1792 Kentucky Constitution" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-13. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- "1799 Kentucky Constitution" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-13. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- "1850 Kentucky Constitution" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-13. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- Specific
- ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 69
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 75
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 81
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 88
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 80
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 77
- ^ a b Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Governor, Office of". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Goebel Assassination". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article II, § 2–3
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article III, § 3–4
- ^ 1850 Kentucky Constitution article III, § 3
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 71
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article II, § 15
- ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Confederate Government". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
- ^ "Hawes, Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Greenup, Christopher". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Adair, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Desha, Joseph". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Metcalfe, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Morehead, James Turner". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Clark, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Wickliffe, Charles Anderson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Letcher, Robert Perkins". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Crittenden, John Jordan". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Powell, Lazarus Whitehead". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Morehead, Charles Slaughter". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Stevenson, John White". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Kentucky Governor Preston Hopkins Leslie". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2010-01-21. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "McCreary, James Bennett". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Knott, James Proctor". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Brown, John Young". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Bradley, William O'Connell". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Beckham, John Crepps Wickliffe". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Stanley, Augustus Osley". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Fields, William Craig". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Chandler, Albert Benjamin (Happy)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Clements, Earle C." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Bertram Thomas Combs (1911–1991)". History of the Sixth Circuit. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "Ford, Wendell Hampton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Fletcher, Ernest L." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
External links
