State Rep. Harry Moberly says he won’t seek re-election
State Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond
UPDATED AT 4:28 P.M.
State Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, said he won’t run for re-election this year so he can concentrate on his family and high-profile job at Eastern Kentucky University.
Moberly, who will have represented Madison County in the House for 31 years when his term ends in December, said he felt this was the right time to retire from the legislature. He said he planned to formally announce his retirement later Thursday.
“Thirty-one years is long enough,” he told the Herald-Leader. “It’s time to get some new blood in here.”
During his 14 years as chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, Moberly cultivated a reputation as a tireless and tough leader. His floor speeches about the budget and state tax policies were often fiery.
And he played key roles in the passage of some of the most sweeping pieces of legislation over the last 30 years, including the tax code changes pushed by former Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher in 2005, the Kentucky Education Reform Act in 1990 and the Higher Education Reform Act in 1997 that was pushed by then-Gov. Paul Patton.
Moberly seemed almost wistful about the Higher Education Reform Act at a higher education budget subcommittee meeting Thursday where Patton, who serves on the Council on Postsecondary Education, was testifying.
“Serving with Gov. Patton, particularly in his first term, was really the highlight of my legislative career because of all that I thought was accomplished,” Moberly said during the meeting.
Moberly currently serves as executive vice president at Eastern Kentucky University, which is his alma mater.
Moberly was the second state legislator this week from Madison County to announce decision not to seek re-election.
State Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, said Wednesday he will not run again.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Thursday that his son, Brooks Stumbo, an attorney in Madison County, is considering a bid for Worley’s Senate seat.
- Ryan Alessi
Filed Under: KY General Assembly
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And another one goes down! Worley wanted to spend more time with his family too, didn’t he?
Down with all incumbents in until however long it takes
Great news. It’s past high time he move on.
Wow with all the changes that may occur there might be hope of breaking up the “good old boy” network. We might even see some legislation that makes a difference for Kentuckians.
good time for new blood out of the good ole boy network, politics is not honest work.
This is great news. Another money hungry obstructionist is gone.
Harry has made the Commonwealth of Kentucky a better place. His commitment to education has improved the lives of many young people. No one knows the budget better than Harry.
Happy Days….Only thing Moberly did for Kentucky was take a pay check x2 and raise our taxes!!!!
Moberly was one of the greatest Kentucky legislators and we thank him for his true service to the people of our Commonwealth.
Good to see all of them going to the house as we need new blood as they are doing nothing and have done nothing for a lonnnnnnnnggg time. Very disturbing to see that we might have another Stumbo. I guess it is such a lucrative job another Stumbo wants to be elected. Remember, an apple does not fall far from the tree…….