By Jacqueline Pitts, The Bottom Line
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Democratic Gov.-elect Andy Beshear announced Wednesday the start of his transition team ahead of taking office in December and discussed issues and initiatives his administration will be focused on.
After Beshear defeated incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin on Tuesday by around 5,000 votes, Bevin has not conceded and Beshear said at the press conference the two have not yet spoken about the results. However, Beshear said it is time to move on and he is looking forward to beginning the transition to the governor’s office.
He stated he will be focused on issues important to all Kentucky families including education, health care, pensions and jobs. Beshear also added the budget he will be crafting to present to the legislature in January will prioritize education funding, infrastructure and other issues.
Meanwhile, Beshear said he would be working to reverse some of Bevin’s policies, rescinding the Medicaid waiver the Bevin administration submitted to the federal government and giving Kentucky a new Board of Education.
The governor-elect also called for bipartisanship as he enters into this role with all other statewide offices, as well as the state House and state Senate, being in Republican control. Beshear stated that he wants to change the tone of Frankfort and make sure Republicans and Democrats are able to work together on things they agree on and speak to each other civilly on things they don’t see eye-to-eye on.
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J. Michael Brown, who served as deputy attorney general under Andy Beshear as well as Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary under former Gov. Steve Beshear, will lead the transition team. Beshear said more announcements on the transition team will be released in the coming days and weeks because he feels key positions need to be filled swiftly in order to address the issues facing Kentucky families.
As for whether he will have an all Democratic administration, Beshear stated Kentuckians can expect to see individuals of all party registrations to be in cabinet positions in his administration.
Beshear also said he will be reaching out to Republican Daniel Cameron, who won the attorney general’s race on Tuesday night, to make sure they are able to work together on many key issues and also figure out when Cameron will take office as Beshear will be leaving the position to take on his new role.
Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more election updates.
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