Lucas did not run for reelection in 2004, honoring a promise to serve only three terms. However, he made a bid for his old congressional seat in 2006 against Geoff Davis, the Republican who won the seat in 2004. Lucas narrowly defeated Davis in 2002, even as popular Republican SenatorMitch McConnell breezed to a fourth term in a big midterm cycle for Republicans.
On February 2, 2009, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs by Governor Steve Beshear.[1]
From 1967 to 1974, Lucas was a city councilman in Florence; after this, he became a county commissioner in Boone County until 1982. In 1992, he was elected county judge-executive of Boone County, and in 1998 he ran successfully for the House.
Lucas' 1998 victory came as something of a surprise even though Democrats have a substantial majority in registration. He was the first Democrat to represent this district since 1967. Due to the influence of the Cincinnati suburbs, it was widely considered one of the most Republican districts in the South. His victory was even more remarkable since six-term incumbent Jim Bunning made a successful run for the Senate in 1998, winning largely by carrying his old district by a margin that Democrat Scotty Baesler couldn't make up in the rest of the state.
Lucas was reelected in 2000 by 12 points even as the district gave George W. Bush his largest victory margin in the state (the territory currently in the district has not supported a Democrat for President since 1964). He had a far closer race in 2002, when Geoff Davis held him to 51 percent.
Lucas opted not to seek reelection in 2004, having promised to serve only three terms (six years) in Congress. He heavily recruited Cincinnati television personality Nick Clooney to run against Davis in his stead, but Davis defeated Clooney 55% to 45%. A member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lucas and his wife Mary have five children.
Map of the 2002 election in KY-04, the last time Lucas or any Democrat won the seat
Legend
Lucas
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Davis
50–60%
60–70%
Run for Congress 2006
Local and national Democratic Party leaders recruited Lucas to make a run for his old seat. He formally announced his candidacy on January 30.
Lucas' entry made the race competitive, despite the 4th's Republican bent. Historically, among the Commonwealth's districts, only the 5th district has been more Republican. The influence of the heavily Republican Cincinnati suburbs kept the district in Republican hands from 1967 until Lucas won the seat in 1998. In August Congressional Quarterly rated the race as "Lean Republican." In late July, the Washington Post also rated the race as a toss-up.[2] A SurveyUSA poll released on July 25, 2006, showed Lucas leading 50% to 41%,[3] although Davis has a decisive lead in fundraising.[4]
Lucas ended up losing to Davis by nine points: 43% to 52%. To date, this is the last time that a Democrat has managed even 40 percent of the vote.
A "Blue-Dog" Democrat
Lucas was one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, as reflected by National Journal rankings. He had a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 72, the highest of any Democrat in the 108th Congress. However, he shared most Democrats' wariness about privatizing Social Security. He was asked several times to switch parties and become a Republican, but rebuffed these overtures each time.
In a district with a strong social conservative bent, Lucas won his three terms by stressing his conservative social views. He is anti-abortion, pro-gun and against gay marriage. He supported President Bush's tax cuts while in Congress and also voted in favor of going to war in Iraq. He identified as a "Blue Dog Democrat." This comes from the old (Southern) phrase of "Yellow dog Democrats" — people who would vote Democrat even if a yellow dog was the nominee. To distance themselves from attacks (such as being too liberal), they formed the coalition.
References
^. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
^Eight Issues That Will Shape the 2006 Elections (washingtonpost.com)
^. Archived from the original on 2006-08-05. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
^U.S. House, Kentucky District 4 | Elections | washingtonpost.com 2006-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
External links
Entry in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary
lucas, politician, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article,. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Ken Lucas politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kenneth Ray Lucas born August 22 1933 is an American politician Lucas a Democrat was a U S Representative from Kentucky s 4th congressional district from 1999 until 2005 Ken LucasMember of the U S House of Representatives from Kentucky s 4th districtIn office January 3 1999 January 3 2005Preceded byJim BunningSucceeded byGeoff DavisPersonal detailsBornKenneth Ray Lucas 1933 08 22 August 22 1933 age 90 Kenton County Kentucky U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseMary LucasRelationsKenneth Lance LucasLucas did not run for reelection in 2004 honoring a promise to serve only three terms However he made a bid for his old congressional seat in 2006 against Geoff Davis the Republican who won the seat in 2004 Lucas narrowly defeated Davis in 2002 even as popular Republican Senator Mitch McConnell breezed to a fourth term in a big midterm cycle for Republicans On February 2 2009 he was appointed as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs by Governor Steve Beshear 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Run for Congress 2006 3 A Blue Dog Democrat 4 References 5 External linksLife and career EditLucas was born in Covington Kentucky and grew up on a dairy and tobacco farm in Grant County He attended the University of Kentucky graduating in 1955 Lucas received his MBA from Xavier University in 1970 He served for 12 years in the Air Force later serving in the Air National Guard and retiring as a major He then became a certified financial planner From 1967 to 1974 Lucas was a city councilman in Florence after this he became a county commissioner in Boone County until 1982 In 1992 he was elected county judge executive of Boone County and in 1998 he ran successfully for the House Lucas 1998 victory came as something of a surprise even though Democrats have a substantial majority in registration He was the first Democrat to represent this district since 1967 Due to the influence of the Cincinnati suburbs it was widely considered one of the most Republican districts in the South His victory was even more remarkable since six term incumbent Jim Bunning made a successful run for the Senate in 1998 winning largely by carrying his old district by a margin that Democrat Scotty Baesler couldn t make up in the rest of the state Lucas was reelected in 2000 by 12 points even as the district gave George W Bush his largest victory margin in the state the territory currently in the district has not supported a Democrat for President since 1964 He had a far closer race in 2002 when Geoff Davis held him to 51 percent Lucas opted not to seek reelection in 2004 having promised to serve only three terms six years in Congress He heavily recruited Cincinnati television personality Nick Clooney to run against Davis in his stead but Davis defeated Clooney 55 to 45 A member of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ Lucas and his wife Mary have five children Map of the 2002 election in KY 04 the last time Lucas or any Democrat won the seatLegend Lucas 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Davis 50 60 60 70 Run for Congress 2006 EditLocal and national Democratic Party leaders recruited Lucas to make a run for his old seat He formally announced his candidacy on January 30 Lucas entry made the race competitive despite the 4th s Republican bent Historically among the Commonwealth s districts only the 5th district has been more Republican The influence of the heavily Republican Cincinnati suburbs kept the district in Republican hands from 1967 until Lucas won the seat in 1998 In August Congressional Quarterly rated the race as Lean Republican In late July the Washington Post also rated the race as a toss up 2 A SurveyUSA poll released on July 25 2006 showed Lucas leading 50 to 41 3 although Davis has a decisive lead in fundraising 4 Lucas ended up losing to Davis by nine points 43 to 52 To date this is the last time that a Democrat has managed even 40 percent of the vote A Blue Dog Democrat EditLucas was one of the most conservative Democrats in the House as reflected by National Journal rankings He had a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 72 the highest of any Democrat in the 108th Congress However he shared most Democrats wariness about privatizing Social Security He was asked several times to switch parties and become a Republican but rebuffed these overtures each time In a district with a strong social conservative bent Lucas won his three terms by stressing his conservative social views He is anti abortion pro gun and against gay marriage He supported President Bush s tax cuts while in Congress and also voted in favor of going to war in Iraq He identified as a Blue Dog Democrat This comes from the old Southern phrase of Yellow dog Democrats people who would vote Democrat even if a yellow dog was the nominee To distance themselves from attacks such as being too liberal they formed the coalition References Edit Kentucky Department of Veteran s Affairs Commissioner Biography Archived from the original on 2019 01 29 Retrieved 2013 02 27 Eight Issues That Will Shape the 2006 Elections washingtonpost com Poll Lucas Leads Davis in Kentucky s 4th Congressional District Race Archived from the original on 2006 08 05 Retrieved 2006 07 26 U S House Kentucky District 4 Elections washingtonpost com Archived 2006 08 12 at the Wayback MachineExternal links EditEntry in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary AP story on Lucas entry in 2006 race from the Lexington Herald Leader FEC contributions to Lucas Appearances on C SPANU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJim Bunning Member of the U S House of Representatives from Kentucky s 4th congressional district1999 2005 Succeeded byGeoff DavisU S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byScotty Baesleras Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former US Representative Succeeded byStephen Fincheras Former US Representative Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken Lucas politician amp oldid 1165527126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
