BRADENTON, Fla. — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed Crit Luallen to become the state's new lieutenant governor.
Luallen, 62, will be sworn in Nov. 14.
She will replace former Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, who will become President Obama's new director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House.
Luallen most recently served as the state's elected auditor from 2003 until 2012.
Before that, she served as the state's budget director, secretary of the Governor's Executive Cabinet, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet, and secretary of the Tourism Cabinet.
"Crit is a well-known and beloved public servant, respected by members of both parties for her resolute pursuit of clean, ethical government," Beshear said. "She was my first and only choice to serve as the new lieutenant governor, and I know Kentuckians will be confident that she is more than up to the task.
Luallen worked for six Kentucky governors before winning two terms as the state's elected auditor. As auditor, her work included uncovering millions of dollars in government fraud and the criminal prosecutions of 34 individuals.
In 2001, she was awarded the National Excellence in Leadership Award by Women Executives in State Government, and in 2009, she was named Public Official of the Year by Washington, D.C.-based Governing magazine.
"Serving as lieutenant governor gives me an opportunity to continue to serve Kentucky and offer my experience and perspective to Gov. Beshear and the fine team he has assembled," Luallen said. "It will be my personal goal to help the governor end his term in office with the state in as strong a position as possible to face the challenges the future holds."
