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The Bottom Line: Beshear appoints familiar names to key positions

(Mark Vanderhoff, WLKY)

By Jacqueline Pitts, The Bottom Line

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov.-elect Andy Beshear Monday announced key appointments in his administration.

Jim Gray, former mayor of Lexington, was named secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Gray served as Lexington mayor from 2011-19 and previously ran his family’s business, Gray Construction.

House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, was named senior advisor to the governor. Adkins has served in the Kentucky House of Representatives since 1987 and has served in Democratic leadership since 2003. He ran for governor but was defeated by Beshear in the 2019 Democratic primary.

Beshear’s Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman will also serve as the secretary of Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Coleman has worked as a teacher, school administrator and basketball coach, and also founded Lead Kentucky, a non-profit organization focused on education policy.

Beshear also announced Col. Haldane B. Lamberton will lead the Kentucky National Guard as adjutant general and Lt. Col. Keith Jackson, former Lexington fire chief, will head the Department of Military Affairs.