Kentucky School Advocate
December 2024
Staff report
The partisan balance in Kentucky’s legislature was unchanged by the November election with Republicans holding 80 of the 100 House seats and 31 of the 38 Senate seats, but there were changes in members, including the addition of at least two new lawmakers with education ties.
Two House seats flipped with House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson losing to Republican challenger Vanessa Grossl in the 88th House District and Democrat Adam Moore defeating Republican Thomas Jefferson in the 45th House District. The 45th District seat had been held by Rep. Killian Timoney, a Fayette County Schools administrator, who lost to Jefferson in the Republican primary.
Joining the House will be J.T. Payne, an assistant principal for career and technical education at Henderson County High School. Payne, a Republican, was unopposed in the election to represent the 11th District.
Payne, who also serves as an FFA adviser, graduated from Henderson County High School and received a bachelor’s in agriculture science and master’s in education from Murray State University where he also served as student body president.
Grossl, of Georgetown, is another new legislator with education ties. She was a teacher for nearly a decade including four years in Fayette County Schools. Grossl is also the daughter of former Floyd County Superintendent Anna Shepherd. Grossl, who works at The Council of State Governments’ (CSG) National Headquarters in Lexington, defeated Stevenson by about 200 votes.
A former school board member failed to secure a seat in the state house. Kevin Kidwell, who served eight years on the Scott County board, was seeking the District 62 seat. Kidwell, a Democrat, faced Republican Tony Hampton with Hampton winning with 66% of the vote.
Three current legislators who previously served as local school board members – Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, a former Warren County board member; Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville, a former Jefferson County board member; and Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, a former Murray Independent board member – will all be returning to the General Assembly as they were all unopposed.
The General Assembly will convene on Jan. 7 for the 2025 regular session.