Three women share gubernatorial slates with men in November

Mary Potter


Three women share gubernatorial slates with men  in November | Kentucky politics, governor's race 2015, women, Sannie Overly, Jenean Hampton, Heather Curtis

Heather Curtis, candidate for Kentucky Lt. Governor

For the first time in anyone's memory, three women are on the ballot in November as running mates to gubernatorial candidates. That's a landmark.

So why aren't Kentuckians more excited? Maybe because Kentuckians have seen women on the executive floor of the Capitol more than once. A woman in the passenger seat while a man drives? No news there.

What is news is the fact that all of the candidates are women and not one looks like an afterthought or a token.

Thelma Stovall was the first woman to serve as Kentucky's lieutenant governor from 1975 to 1979. Stovall was a fierce supporter of woman's rights and once tried to override the Legislature's rejection of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Martha Layne Collins was the first and only woman to serve as Kentucky's governor. Collins is known for bringing Toyota Manufacturing to Kentucky - a move that spurred the automotive industry around Georgetown. Toyota employs around 7000 and with a planned expansion, will add 750 more workers.

Crit Luallen is Kentucky's current lieutenant governor, stepping into the role when Jerry Abramson took a job at the White House. Luallen was elected Kentucky State Auditor in 2002. In her many years in state government, she served in multiple roles in the executive branch.

Each candidate on the November ballot brings unique skills to the job of being second chair.

Shown at left, Rep. Sannie Overly is running on the Democratic ticket with Attorney General Jack Conway. Overly has already broken one glass ceiling by being the first woman to serve in House leadership. Overly is a lawyer with an engineering degree.

Jenean Hampton, at right, is running on the slate with Republican Matt Bevin. A native of Detroit Michigan, Hampton is an Air Force veteran and a mechanical engineer.

Independent Heather Curtis, is running mate for her husband, Drew Curtis. Curtis is a former social worker with a master's degree in clinical psychology. Curtis has been chief operating officer of their media company for the past 16 years.

The three women are scheduled to meet in a televised debate on Monday, October 19th on Kentucky Tonight - KET Statewide Broadcast. (Other debates tba)

That will be fun to watch- three smart women interviewing for the same job in front of their future employers.