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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Reginald Meeks is a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 42. Meeks is running for re-election in the primary on May 22, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018. He was first elected to the chamber in 2000. He previously served as a member of the Louisville City Council from 1982 to 2000.

Meeks' professional experience includes working as Associate Director of the Office of Development at the University of Louisville, Associate Director of the Office of Admissions, Career Planner in the Jefferson County Public School System, and Adjunct Professor at McKendree College. Meeks is a member of the National Association of State Legislators.

Education

  • Attending, University of Louisville, present
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1976-1979
  • BA, History/Third World Studies, Wabash College, 1972-1976

Professional Experience

  • Attending, University of Louisville, present
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1976-1979
  • BA, History/Third World Studies, Wabash College, 1972-1976
  • Managing Partner, Red Cloud Agency, Limited Liability Company, 2005-present
  • Adjunct Professor, McKendree College
  • Former Adjunct Professor, University of Louisville
  • Associate Director of Outreach Programs/Associate Director of Development Programs/Associate Director of Admissions, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Louisville, 1990-2012
  • Career Planner, Jefferson County Public School System, 1988-1990
  • Law Clerk, Christian and Bynum, Bleiot Barnett and Shanks, Barber, Barnett, Etcetera, 1982-1988

Political Experience

  • Attending, University of Louisville, present
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1976-1979
  • BA, History/Third World Studies, Wabash College, 1972-1976
  • Managing Partner, Red Cloud Agency, Limited Liability Company, 2005-present
  • Adjunct Professor, McKendree College
  • Former Adjunct Professor, University of Louisville
  • Associate Director of Outreach Programs/Associate Director of Development Programs/Associate Director of Admissions, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Louisville, 1990-2012
  • Career Planner, Jefferson County Public School System, 1988-1990
  • Law Clerk, Christian and Bynum, Bleiot Barnett and Shanks, Barber, Barnett, Etcetera, 1982-1988
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 42, 2000-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 42, 2018, 2020
  • Alderman, City of Louisville, 1982-2000

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Health and Family Services Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Health and Welfare, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Member, Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

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

Former Member, Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Former Co-Chair, Task Force on Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Education Committee

Member, Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

Member, Joint Committee on Education

Member, Joint Committee on Judiciary

Member, Joint Committee on State Government

Member, Judiciary Committee

Member, Kentucky Career and Technical Education Task Force

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attending, University of Louisville, present
  • JD, University of Iowa College of Law, 1976-1979
  • BA, History/Third World Studies, Wabash College, 1972-1976
  • Managing Partner, Red Cloud Agency, Limited Liability Company, 2005-present
  • Adjunct Professor, McKendree College
  • Former Adjunct Professor, University of Louisville
  • Associate Director of Outreach Programs/Associate Director of Development Programs/Associate Director of Admissions, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Louisville, 1990-2012
  • Career Planner, Jefferson County Public School System, 1988-1990
  • Law Clerk, Christian and Bynum, Bleiot Barnett and Shanks, Barber, Barnett, Etcetera, 1982-1988
  • Representative, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 42, 2000-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky House of Representatives, District 42, 2018, 2020
  • Alderman, City of Louisville, 1982-2000
  • Member, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2000-present
  • Commissioner, Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, 1998-present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Seven Counties Services
  • Fellow/Advisory Board Member, Center for Policy Alternatives
  • Member, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
  • Member, Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education
  • Board Member, Kentucky Long-Range Policy Research
  • Board Member, Kentucky Native American Arts & Cultural Center
  • Member, Kentucky Polar Bear Club
  • Member, Kentucky Sportsmens Caucus
  • Member, Leadership Kentucky
  • Member, Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission
  • Member, National Black Caucus of State Legislators
  • Member, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club
  • Honorary Member, Sunshine Seniors
  • Co-Chair, Status of Cemeteries in Kentucky, 2001
  • Founding Member, Kentucky Association of Black Scuba Divers, 1998-2000
  • Vice President/Regional Member, Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, 1982-2000
  • Member, National Association of Black Scuba Divers, 1998-2000
  • Member, Neighborhood Housing Services of Louisville, 1990-2000
  • Member, Steering Committee, National League of Cities, 1982-2000
  • Member, Board of Directors, Kentucky Heritage Council, 1994-1998

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Ebony Magazine, Fifty Young Future Leaders
  • Louisville Magazine, People to Watch
  • Outstanding Young Men of America
  • Who's Who Among Emerging Leaders in America
  • Who's Who Among Black Americans
  • Who's Who in the South
  • Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Adult Achiever Award

Policy Positions

Kentucky State Legislative Election 2002 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legally available.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

6. Eliminate public funding for abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budgetary, Spending and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories.

1. Education (Higher)
- Slightly Increase Funding

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase Funding

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase Funding

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase Funding

5. Law enforcement
- Maintain Funding Status

6. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- Maintain Funding Status

7. Welfare
- Slightly Increase Funding

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels you will support.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Increase

3. Cigarette taxes
- Greatly Increase

4. Corporate taxes
- Greatly Increase

5. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- Maintain Status

7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- Slightly Increase

8. Inheritance taxes
- Slightly Increase

9. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

10. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

11. Vehicle taxes
- Maintain Status

12. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

13. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Yes

14. Do you support legalizing electronic gambling at horse racing tracks to increase state revenues?
- Yes

15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Governmental Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Do you support the current limit of two four-year terms for Kentucky governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Kentucky state senators and representatives?
- No

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Parties
- Yes

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

6. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for Gubernatorial campaigns?
- Yes

7. Do you support voting on-line?
- Undecided

8. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes

9. Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Kentucky are closed?
- Yes

10. Should Kentucky recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Undecided

11. Should Kentucky restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Undecided

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- No Answer

3. Support the use of the death penalty in Kentucky.
- No Answer

4. Support alternatives to capital punishment for crimes committed by individuals when they were under the age of 18.
- X

5. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

6. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- No Answer

7. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

8. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

9. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

10. Allow law enforcement officers to stop a motorist solely for a seat-belt violation.
- X

11. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

12. Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation or disability be prosecuted as hate crimes.
- X

13. Ban the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officers.
- X

14. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

15. Increase state funding for additional security of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks.
- X

16. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Educational

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- X

2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- No Answer

3. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

4. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X

5. Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- X

6. Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
- X

7. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

8. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer

9. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

10. Increase state funding to expand Head Start programs.
- X

11. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X

12. Support age-appropriate sexual education programs that teach about abstinence, contraceptives and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- X

13. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- No Answer

14. Require that public schools try to decrease child obesity by limiting access to sodas and snacks.
- X

15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning employment.

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding or relocating businesses.
- X

4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X

5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children of low-income working families.
- X

6. Include sexual orientation in Kentucky's anti-discrimination laws.
- X

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

1. College and university admissions
- Yes

2. Public employment
- Yes

3. State contracting
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environmental and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused or abandoned.
- No Answer

3. Support a new beverage container fee to fund clean up of open dumps in Kentucky.
- X

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No Answer

5. Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Ban the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
- No Answer

2. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

3. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

5. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- X

6. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- X

7. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- X

8. Require a license for gun possession.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

3. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X

5. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
- X

6. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

7. Legalize physician-assisted suicide in Kentucky.
- No Answer

8. Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Support the current five-year lifetime limit on welfare benefits in Kentucky.
- No Answer

2. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

3. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire welfare recipients.
- X

4. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- X

5. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

6. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

7. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- No Answer

8. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to expand state services to include the working poor.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In a total of seventy-five (75) words or less, please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- No Answer