Hopkinsville Kiwanis members were able to take in a luncheon and debrief from local legislators Thursday afternoon at Pennyrile Electric’s board room — with full attendance, and attention, in play.
Ninth District State Representative Myron Dossett noted he would miss Senator Whitney Westerfield in Frankfort.
Westerfield, meanwhile, just finished up 12 years serving Christian, Muhlenberg and Caldwell counties, and he’s looking forward to stepping away from the Capitol for a number of reasons.
Among them: a wife Amanda, expectant of triplets, and the desire to be closer to home.
But he also noted he enjoyed passing legislation based on expectations and concerns from constituents. This most recently involved a partnership with former Kentucky Wildcat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist targeting stuttering treatments being insurance-approved, as well as rampant catalytic converter theft and its prosecution.
District 8 Representative Walker Thomas, serving parts of Christian, Trigg and Caldwell, has now experienced four biennium budget cycles in the Commonwealth.
He mentioned two specific appropriations in this year’s budget that should immediately impact southwestern Kentucky.
District 16 Representative Jason Petrie, serving Christian, Todd and Logan, also maintains a strong seat in Frankfort as chairman of Appropriations & Revenue.
He urged that politicians keeping strong contact with both him and their communities, play a strong role in developing the Commonwealth’s two-year spending outlook.
Craig Richardson, currently running unopposed in Westerfield’s seat, said this was a moment he’d “aspired to” that “came out of nowhere,” stemming from a conversation with the former senator.
He hopes to be this region’s rookie in Frankfort next year and has already spent time 1-to-2 days a week since January in chambers observing how legislation works.
Among the two biggest questions from Kiwanis members: the plan for zeroing out the state’s income tax from 6% down to 0%, and the hope of offering cost of living raises to the state’s retirees.
Westerfield said, over the years, his philosophy on Kentucky’s income taxes took a different turn.
Just like last year’s conversation, prominent Christian County CPA Leonard Adcock offered retort, with Petrie countering.
Westerfield also said the “harsh truth” on retiree COLA’s is that they haven’t been a high priority in committee.
Petrie took four minutes to explain the entire history of where Kentucky’s retiree pensions have weaved through the years.
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