KY House of Representatives, District 19, Warren and Edmonson County
Why Rep. Michael Meredith Should Retire from Elected Office
1. School Choice – Rep. Meredith votes against School Choice. Consistent “No” vote on School choice issues (HB563 HFA2, HFA20, Final Passage, Veto Override), and most recently on 2023 HB 2. School choice is about letting the most vulnerable in our society have the best opportunities, and to let their parents afford to make those choices.
2. Term Limits – Rep. Michael Meredith is a career politician ( 7 term incumbent) . He was first elected in 2011 and has represented Warren and Edmonson County for the last 13 years. Source: Legislative Research Commission.
3. Ethics: Poor moral character. Rep. Michael Meredith is the only elected official who was not voted out of office in a 2017 sexting scandal. Source: The Courier Journal, November 4, 2017, “Sources: Sex harassment settlement involves more House Republicans, Hoover chief of staff” by Darcy Costello and Deborah Yetter.
“A Northern Kentucky lawyer who previously worked at the state Capitol says she received inappropriate text messages from one of the four House Republicans involved in a secret sexual harassment settlement with another female staffer that cost former House Speaker Jeff Hoover his leadership job.”
“Jordan Morgan, the daughter of state Rep. C. Wesley Morgan, a Richmond Republican, said she received a number of such messages from state Rep. Michael Meredith while she worked on the staff of Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016 and 2017. She saved several messages which she said were from Meredith and provided them to Courier Journal and other media outlets Thursday.”
The Courier Journal, November 30, 2017
See also: “Kentucky lawmaker back in leadership after sexual harassment case” by Adam Beam | Associated Press, December 6, 2018
“FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican leaders in Kentucky have restored a state lawmaker to his leadership position more than a year after he signed a secret sexual harassment settlement.”
“State Rep. Michael Meredith was one of four Republican lawmakers who signed the $110,000 settlement in 2017 with a woman who once worked for the House Republican Caucus. The lawmakers did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, but all four ended up losing their leadership positions, including Jeff Hoover, who stepped down as House speaker.”
“Republican leaders restored Meredith on Wednesday as chairman of the House Local Government Committee, which vets proposed legislation about local roads, police and fire departments and other local matters….”
Associated Press, December 6, 2018
“House Speaker Jeff Hoover’s confidential sexual harassment settlement also involves three other House Republicans, as well as Hoover’s chief of staff, sources tell Courier Journal.
“Reps. Jim DeCesare of Rockfield, Brian Linder of Dry Ridge and Michael Meredith of Brownsville and Ginger Wills, the chief of staff, also were parties to the settlement, according to sources with knowledge of the deal who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.
“Meredith is chairman of the Local Government Committee, and DeCesare is chairman of the Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee….
“Meredith and DeCesare did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday night. Linder and Wills could not be reached for comment.
“It was not immediately clear how the lawmakers and staff member were connected to the allegations of sexual harassment against Hoover….”
See also: The Courier Journal, November 30, 2017, “Former state worker says she got ‘flirty’ messages from KY rep involved in secret settlement” by Deborah Yetter
The Courier Journal, November 30, 2017
4. Sports Betting – Rep. Michael Meredith was the primary sponsor of the law legalizing sports betting in Kentucky. 2023 HB 551. This law has sent billions of dollars to casinos and sports betting organizations outside of the state, it has created another addiction crisis in the state, all while lining the election coffers of career politicians.
See: Against all odds, sports betting becomes law in Kentucky
At the governor’s signing ceremony Friday morning in the Capitol rotunda, Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, the lead sponsor of the bill, said HB 551 “might be the most bipartisan bill that was passed this session.”
Louisville Courier Journal, March 30, 2023
5. Defense of Children – 2023 The Kentucky Family Foundation Scorecard gives Meredith a 39% rating based on his voting record (only 3 Republicans in the house ranked lower).
The Kentucky Family Legislative Scorecard is an educational project of The Family Foundation of Kentucky and is the most comprehensive pro-family legislative scorecard in the Commonwealth. The most recent scorecard is based on Kentucky’s 2023 Legislative Session and measures how state legislators performed on core issues of family, life, religious freedom, human sexuality, and human dignity. It compiles important legislative activity, including votes and bill sponsorships.
The scorecard is a critical educational and accountability tool for Kentuckians to see where legislators stood on the values that matter to them. For the 2023 Scorecard, legislators that scored 90% and above are recognized as Kentucky Family Champions.
The Kentucky Family Foundation
6. Election Reform – Voted NO on photo ID requirement for elections – HB574 HFA 3 Amendment, without this amendment, individuals can continue to register to vote, and vote in Kentucky with their employee ID or their Student ID. Without having to formally change their state of residency.
Vote Kelcey Rock for KY House District 19 on May 21, 2024
The Warren County Conservatives Political Action Committee Endorses Kelsey Rock for Kentucky Representative, House District 19, Warren and Edmonson Counties.