Kentucky Senate Republicans have appointed President Pro Temp Katie Stine as the new legislative co-chair for their chamber as David Williams prepares to depart as Senate president.The GOP cannot name a new president until lawmakers convene again in January, but current Stine will assume the duties and serve as temporary co-chair of the Legislative Research Commission.Williams will resign Friday to take a circuit court judgeship, which leads to a vacancy in the Legislative Research Commission. Retiring Sen. Vernie McGaha will become a temporary fifth member of the Senate Republicans leadership team. He'll have no official title. Stine said her appointment as co-chair makes sense, since her title describes her as a temporary president at times.
“Just as I preside when the Senate President is not on the floor or he’s doing something else, same kind of thing,” she said.
Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers, the likely successor to Williams as president, says the Republican caucus did not have any discussions about permanent leadership during their meeting today. “We are not interested in the leadership races at this time. What we are doing is trying to keep our eye on the ball, focused on Tuesday," Stivers said, referring to the upcoming election. Until senators know which members are re-elected or win challenges on Election Day, the caucus can’t consider leadership elections, Stivers said.
