Crit Luallen
Lexington, KY – Governor Steve Beshear announced this morning that effective Nov. 13, Lieutenant Governor and former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson will leave Kentucky for a role in the White House as a special assistant to the President Barack Obama and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
In Abramson’s place, Beshear announced he will appoint long time state government official and former State Auditor Crit Luallen to replace Abramson.
In Washington Abramson’s role will be to act as a bridge between the President’s domestic agenda and city, county, state and tribal governments, according to a release from Beshear’s office. He will help state and local governments manage policy issues and challenges, such as infrastructure, natural disasters and public health.
“This is a bittersweet moment for me and for our administration,” Beshear stated in a release. “Jerry and I have been friends for more than 30 years, and I chose him as my Lieutenant Governor because I knew that his extensive experience as longtime mayor of Louisville, his contagious enthusiasm and his knack for building momentum around new ideas would make him a great partner in leading our state.”
Abramson, who joined the Beshear administration after Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo decided to seek the Democratic nomination for US Senate in 2010 rather than remain on Beshear’s 2011 ticket, said he is looking forward to the new role in DC.
“The challenges that face America’s local communities – such as workforce training, education, infrastructure investment, shrinking budgets, affordable housing, public transportation and emergency response – are the issues that I’ve worked on for more than 30 years in local and state government. I’m honored to be in a position to help this country’s mayors, county executives, governors and other local officials tackle these issues and work to find innovative solutions,” Abramson stated.
Luallen started her role in politics during Wendell Ford’s initial campaign for US Senate in 1974 as a recent graduate from Centre College. She then went to work in the Carroll Administration before working for every governor until leaving during Paul Patton’s term. She has served as state budget director, Secretary of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet and Secretary of the Tourism Cabinet. After leaving state government she headed the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership and played a major role in the combining of that group with the Louisville Chamber of Commerce leading to what today is known as Greater Louisville Inc., before being elected to two terms as State Auditor beginning in 2003.
Luallen, a life long resident of Frankfort, has often been considered as a candidate for high profile jobs such as US Senate and Governor but has never launched a campaign despite repeated speculation she would.
“Serving as Lieutenant Governor gives me an opportunity to continue to serve Kentucky and offer my experience and perspective to Gov. Beshear and the fine team he has assembled. It will be my personal goal to help the Governor end his term in office with the state in as strong a position as possible to face the challenges the future holds,” Luallen said in a statement about remainder of the governor’s term in office, which is about 13 months.
Luallen will be sworn into office at the time of Abramson’s resignation at 5 p.m. Nov. 13 and there will be a public ceremony the following day at 2:30 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.