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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Tom Buford (b. May 23, 1949) is a Republican member of the Kentucky State Senate, representing District 22. Buford was first elected to the chamber in 1990. Buford is running for re-election in the primary on May 22, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Buford served as Senate Republican Whip from 1991 to 1992. Buford was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, Kentucky, District 6, in 2004.

Buford earned his B.S. from the University of Kentucky in 1971. His profession experience includes working as President of Buford Property Management Company, Executive Vice President for Central Bank and Kentucky Bank, Contractor/Builder for Buford Construction and in property management.

Education

  • BS, University of Kentucky, 1971

Professional Experience

  • BS, University of Kentucky, 1971
  • Contractor/Builder, Buford Construction, 1976-2002
  • President, Buford Property Managment Company, 1971-2002
  • Executive Vice President, Central Bank and Kentucky Bank, 1972-2002

Political Experience

  • BS, University of Kentucky, 1971
  • Contractor/Builder, Buford Construction, 1976-2002
  • President, Buford Property Managment Company, 1971-2002
  • Executive Vice President, Central Bank and Kentucky Bank, 1972-2002
  • Senator, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, District 22, 1991-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, District 22, 2018
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Kentucky, District 6, 2004
  • Minority Whip, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, 1991-1992

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Chair, Banking and Insurance Committee, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate

Former Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate

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

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

Former Member, Joint Committee on Medicaid Oversight and Advisory, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate

Chair, Republican Caucus, 1993-1996

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations and Revenue Committee

Member, Banking and Insurance Committee

Member, Child Welfare Oversight and Advisory Committee

Member, Health and Welfare Committee

Member, Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue

Member, Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance

Member, Joint Committee on Health, Welfare, and Family Services

Member, Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations

Member, Joint Committee on Program Review and Investigations

Member, Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BS, University of Kentucky, 1971
  • Contractor/Builder, Buford Construction, 1976-2002
  • President, Buford Property Managment Company, 1971-2002
  • Executive Vice President, Central Bank and Kentucky Bank, 1972-2002
  • Senator, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, District 22, 1991-present
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, District 22, 2018
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Kentucky, District 6, 2004
  • Minority Whip, Commonwealth of Kentucky Senate, 1991-1992
  • Member, Board of Directors, Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center, present
  • Adult Leader, 4-H
  • Member, Advisory Board, Kentucky School for the Deaf
  • Member, Advisory Board, Task Force on Mental Retardation and Disabilities
  • Board Member, All God's Children Home
  • Member, American Institute of Banking
  • Member, Arts Council
  • Board Member, Ashland Terrace Home for Women
  • Advisory Board Member, Hagin Memorial Hospital
  • Member, Home Builders Association of the Bluegrass
  • Member, Humane Society
  • Member, Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Jessamine County Educational Foundation
  • Member, Kentucky Jaycees
  • Member, Kiwanis
  • Member, Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, Mercer County Chamber of Commerce
  • Elder, Nicholasville Christian Church
  • Member, Rotary Club
  • Member, United Way
  • Member, University of Kentucky Alumni Association

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Natural Resources Leadership Association Legislator of the Year

  • 1

Policy Positions

Kentucky State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I do Not support public funds for organizations that perform abortions..

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

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

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes?
- Yes

3. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

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

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Kentucky?
- Yes

7. Do you support the legalization of casino gambling in order to fund Kentucky's pension system?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- Casino legislation revenues must be used for pensions and horse breeders in KY to gain my vote.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Kentucky?
- No

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Kentucky high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Do you support decreasing compensation for citizens who generate excess energy from personal solar panels ("net-metering")?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

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

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No Answer

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- Local school boards can now make local choices on how guns will be allowed in schools.This is a local choice. The citizens of a district know what is best in their case.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Kentucky's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- Should one chose not to vaccinate their child in a public school and that illness arise, that child can be asked to leave the school under current law. To prevent them from acquiring the illness.

Social

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

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

3. Do you support greater efforts by Kentucky state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, 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.
- Opioid crisisEducationTaxes