Walker Thomas
Walker Thomas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey R. Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 13, 1963 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Committees | Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection (Chair)
Agriculture Local Government Transportation |
Walker Wood Thomas (born August 13, 1963) is an American politician who has served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 8th district since 2017.[1][2] He was first elected in 2016, defeating incumbent representative Jeffrey R. Taylor. Thomas had previously lost a special election to Taylor earlier that year.
Biography[edit]
Thomas graduated from Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Thomas is a co-owner of Kentucky Moving and Storage in the City of Hopkinsville. He has previously served his home city in several capacities, including a term on the Hopkinsville City Council, as well as serving as President and Assistant Governor of the local Rotary Club.
Political Career[edit]
Elections[edit]
2016 (Special) The 8th Kentucky House District seat was vacant following the appointment of John Tilley by Governor Matt Bevin as Secretary of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. A special election was called and held on March 8, 2016. Walker was defeated by Democratic candidate Jeffery R. Taylor by a margin of 1,025 votes.
2016 (General) Walker was unopposed in the 2016 republican primary, and won the 2016 Kentucky House of Representatives election against incumbent Jeffery R. Taylor by a margin of 474 votes.
2018 Walker was unopposed in the 2018 republican primary, and won the 2018 Kentucky House of Representatives election against Democratic candidate Jeffery R. Taylor by a margin of 467 votes.
2020 Walker was unopposed in the 2020 republican primary, and won the 2020 Kentucky House of Representatives election against Democratic candidate Pam Dossett by a margin of 1,280 votes.
2022 Walker won the 2022 republican primary against challenger Larry Curling by a margin of 560 votes, and won the 2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election against Democratic candidate Pam Dossett by a margin of 5,096 votes.
2024 Walker was unopposed in the 2024 republican primary, and is unopposed in the 2024 Kentucky House of Representatives election.
Controversy[edit]
On February 23, 2022, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that during a committee meeting, Thomas and committee chair Sen. Rick Girdler made use of the anti-Semitic phrase "Jew them down" to refer to bargaining for a lower price on a $1 lease.[3] According to the story, after a presentation about the lease, which was necessary due to recent storms, Walker had been picked up on a hot mic laughing and asking if the state could "jew them down on the price." Girdler repeated the question and then paused, and said, “That ain’t the right word to use. ‘Drop them down,’ I guess.”[4] Thomas later apologized, saying that the remark was "not who he was", and wasn't intended to offend anyone in the Jewish community.
References[edit]
- ^ "House District 8". Lrc.ky.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- ^ "Walker Thomas tops Jeff Taylor in close race". Kentucky New Era. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- ^ "Kentucky legislators apologize after using anti-Semitic phrase during committee meeting". Lexington Herald-Leader. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ Kampeas, Ron (24 February 2022). "2 Kentucky Lawmakers apologize". Times of Israel.