A Kentucky lawmaker who represents five counties in our listening area has decided two decades in office will be long enough.
Republican House member Dwight Butler announced he won’t run for re-election after his current term expires next year. Butler’s district covers Breckinridge and Hancock counties, along with parts of Bullitt, Daviess, and Hardin counties.
He told WKU Public Radio he plans to take a hands-off approach when it comes to who runs for the seat next year.
“If someone comes to me and asks advice about the district, or about what I’ve seen, or how the process works, I’d be happy to give that to them," said the Republican from Harned. "But I’m not going to have any hand-picked successor, at all.”
Butler’s successor will take over a more compact district than the one the long-time incumbent currently represents. Following the latest round of redistricting, Butler’s district picked up more of Hardin County,while losing parts of Bullitt and Daviess counties.
Butler faced challengers only two times during his two decades in office, and will retire having never lost an election. He said a successful lawmaker has to keep the lines of communication open with the people back home.
“The main thing I’ve learned is that if you stay in touch with the people who are in your district, if you try to get back with them as quickly as possible, if you listen to them—not that you’re going to agree with them on everything—but if you listen to their concerns, they respect that.”
Butler also said believes the state General Assembly is more bi-partisan now than it was when he first arrived in Frankfort in 1995.