When Legislators convene the 2019 session of the Kentucky General Assembly on Jan. 8, one prominent Democrat will be absent. After more than 40 years of service to the Commonwealth, Representative Jody Richards begins his retirement. The former House Speaker and Democratic gubernatorial candidate says there are many challenges facing lawmakers, but one issue is critical.
"The most important issue facing the Commonwealth always is education - elementary, secondary, and higher - that’s the main function of state government," Richards said. "We spend somewhere around 55 percent of the state budget on education, so to me that is such an important part of state government.”