Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson Resigns For White House Post; Crit Luallen to Replace Him

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson will resign on Nov. 13 for a post in the White House, and former state Auditor Crit Luallen will be appointed in his place, Gov. Steve Beshear announced Thursday.

Abramson will be President Obama's liaison to state and local government, the Associated Press reports.

The AP adds:
One of Abramson's duties will be to help coordinate with states on the upcoming second open enrollment under Obama's health care law. Abramson brings unique experience as chair of Kentucky's health care initiative. Kentucky was an Obamacare success story, with more than 400,000 people signing up under the state's health insurance exchange.
Luallen was the state auditor from 2004-2012. In recent years, she's frequently been mentioned as a potential candidate for other statewide offices.

Abramson was mayor of the old City of Louisville from 1986 to 1999. He was elected Louisvlle Metro's first mayor in 2002 and served two terms. He was elected lieutenant governor with Beshear in 2011.

Beshear praised both Abramson and Luallen in announcing the change.

Abramson's resignation and Luallen's appointment will be effective at 5 p.m. Nov. 13.

We'll have more on Thursday's announcement later today.

Update: Luallen said she won't run for governor in 2015.

Update: Abramson said:
And we finally decided that when the President of the United States asks you to join him in an area of government you know a great deal about—I mean, over two decades in local government, two years up here with Governor Brown as general counsel and three years up here as lieutenant governor, I really felt that I had some experience and background, that I could add value.