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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Economic Development Committee, 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2011-present

Vice Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), 2006-2007, 2011-present

Member, Muhlenberg County Industry Board, 1991-present

Member, Adult Literacy Task Force

Vice Chair, Appropriations and Revenue Committee

Member, Budget Review Committee for Justice

Former Member, Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Electric Industry Tax Restructuring Task Force

Member, Energy Special Subcommittee

Former Member, Government Contract Review Committee

Former Member, House Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on Labor and Industry, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on State Government, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Vice Chair, Judiciary Committee

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Kentucky Public Pensions Task Force

Member, Labor and Industry Committee

Former Member, Labor and Industry Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Military Procurement Task Force

Former Member, Public Pension Oversight Board, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Special Subcommittee on Energy, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, State Government Committee

Former Member, State Government Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Tobacco Task Force

Member, Tobacco Task Force-Government Contract Review Committee

Immediate Past Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Economic Development Committee, 2009-2010

Overall Vice Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Standing Committee, 2009-2010

Vice Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Workforce Development Committee, 2005-2006

Education

  • JD, University of Kentucky College of Law, 1975
  • BS, Political Science, Murray State University, 1971

Professional Experience

  • JD, University of Kentucky College of Law, 1975
  • BS, Political Science, Murray State University, 1971
  • Attorney, Brent Yonts Law Offices, 1976-present
  • First Lieutenant, United States Army, Adjutant General Corps, 1971-1973

Political Experience

  • JD, University of Kentucky College of Law, 1975
  • BS, Political Science, Murray State University, 1971
  • Attorney, Brent Yonts Law Offices, 1976-present
  • First Lieutenant, United States Army, Adjutant General Corps, 1971-1973
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 15, 2018
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, 1997-2016
  • Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 2000, 2004
  • Member, Greenville Board of Education, 1979-1983

Former Committees/Caucuses

Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Economic Development Committee, 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2011-present

Vice Chair, Labor & Economic Development Committee, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), 2006-2007, 2011-present

Member, Muhlenberg County Industry Board, 1991-present

Member, Adult Literacy Task Force

Vice Chair, Appropriations and Revenue Committee

Member, Budget Review Committee for Justice

Former Member, Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Electric Industry Tax Restructuring Task Force

Member, Energy Special Subcommittee

Former Member, Government Contract Review Committee

Former Member, House Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on Labor and Industry, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Interim Joint Committee on State Government, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Vice Chair, Judiciary Committee

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Kentucky Public Pensions Task Force

Member, Labor and Industry Committee

Former Member, Labor and Industry Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Military Procurement Task Force

Former Member, Public Pension Oversight Board, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Former Member, Special Subcommittee on Energy, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, State Government Committee

Former Member, State Government Committee, Kentucky State House of Representatives

Member, Tobacco Task Force

Member, Tobacco Task Force-Government Contract Review Committee

Immediate Past Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Economic Development Committee, 2009-2010

Overall Vice Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Standing Committee, 2009-2010

Vice Chair, National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Labor & Workforce Development Committee, 2005-2006

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, University of Kentucky College of Law, 1975
  • BS, Political Science, Murray State University, 1971
  • Attorney, Brent Yonts Law Offices, 1976-present
  • First Lieutenant, United States Army, Adjutant General Corps, 1971-1973
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 15, 2018
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, 1997-2016
  • Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 2000, 2004
  • Member, Greenville Board of Education, 1979-1983
  • Chair, Kentucky Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, 2010-present
  • Director, Board of Trustees, Sunrise Children Services, 2008-present
  • Sponsor, Three Rivers Turkey Unlimited, 2001-present
  • Deacon, First Baptist Church, Greenville, 1995-present
  • Treasurer, First Baptist Church, Greenville, 1992-present
  • Sponsor, Ducks Unlimited, 1983-present
  • Member, Kentucky Bar Association, 1976-present
  • Member, Muhlenberg County Chamber of Commerce, 1976-present
  • Member, Alpha Chi Honor Society
  • Member, Ducks Unlimited
  • Member, Faculty Alliance, Kentucky Community College
  • Master Mason, Freemasonry
  • Trustee, Grace & Bess Wells Trust
  • Former President, Greenville Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
  • Former President, Kiwanis
  • UL, Labor-Economic Development Consults, 2006-present
  • Member, Murray State Alumni Association
  • Former President, South High Band Boosters

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Kentucky Chamber MVP Award, 2012
  • Public Advocate Award, 2012
  • Bluegrass Institute Liberty Award, 2012
  • Children's Alliance Champion for Children Award, 2012
  • Kentucky League of Cities Legislative Award, 2003
  • Distinguished Freshman Legislator, 1998
  • Third District Friend of Ed Award, 1998
  • KESPA Appreciation Award, 1998
  • KY Chamber of Commerce Award
  • Department of Public Advocacy Legislative Award

Policy Positions

Kentucky State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- Yes

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Should an ultrasound be required prior to an abortion?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

9. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

10. Other or expanded principles
- I do not believe in Abortion personally

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Greatly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Decrease

4. Health care
- Maintain Status

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Maintain Status

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Greatly Increase

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Sales taxes
- Slightly Decrease

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Slightly Increase

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Kentucky's budget.

1. Tapping into Kentucky's "rainy day" fund
- Yes

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No Answer

3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
- No Answer

4. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No Answer

5. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No Answer

6. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- Yes

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- d - depends on the childs agef - local government does not have the training or finances it is a federal issue

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No

7. Do you support expanded gambling in Kentucky?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- [g) Do you support expanded gambling in Kentucky?] Candidate wrote "Slots at Racetracks"

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- Yes

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- Yes

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Kentucky high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- g. depends on several factors: status of parents, whether born here - undecided need more info.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- Yes

3. Do you support increased regulations on mountaintop removal mining and disposal?
- No

4. Do you support state funding for improvements to Kentucky's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

6. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- f. Sufficient regulation is in place

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

6. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- [d) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?] Candidate wrote "is federal law"[e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?] Candidate wrote "depends on damage type" e. depends on the type damage

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- Yes

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- No

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- 1. Find a solution to the pension shortfall in funding to shore up the multiple pension systems 2. Restore funding to at least 2008 levels in k-12 and Post Secondary education 3. Continue to review our criminal laws to focus on rehabilitation to cut down on return rates, focus being on drug related crime

Speeches