Eugenia Crittenden Blackburn "Crit" Luallen (born July 21, 1952) is an American politician who served as the 56th

lieutenant governor of Kentucky The lieutenant governor of Kentucky was created under the state's second constitution, which was ratified in 1799. The inaugural officeholder was Alexander Scott Bullitt, who took office in 1800 following his election to serve under James Garrard ...

from November 13, 2014, to December 8, 2015. Luallen previously served as

Kentucky State Auditor The auditor of public accounts of Kentucky is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Kentucky. Forty-seven individuals have occupied the auditor's office since statehood. The incumbent is Mike Harmon, a R ...

Early life and career

Luallen is a native of Frankfort, where she graduated from Frankfort High School before continuing on to study at Centre College in

Danville, Kentucky Danville is a home rule-class city in Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. It is the seat of its county. The population was 17,236 at the 2020 Census. Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes ...

, graduating in 1974. Luallen is descended from John Jordan Crittenden and

Luke Pryor Blackburn Luke Pryor Blackburn (June 16, 1816September 14, 1887) was an American physician, philanthropist, and politician from Kentucky. He was elected the List of Governors of Kentucky, 28th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1879 to 1883. Until the el ...

, and she shares her name with both men. After graduating from Centre College, Luallen began working in the mailroom of Wendell Ford's senate campaign. She worked her way up in the campaign to working in communications. After Ford's campaign, Luallen worked on Julian Carroll's gubernatorial campaign and in the administration of

John Y. Brown Jr. John Young Brown Jr. (December 28, 1933 – November 22, 2022) was an American politician, entrepreneur, and businessman from Kentucky. He served as the 55th governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983, and built Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) into a ...

In 1983, Luallen worked on Martha Layne Collins's gubernatorial campaign as the campaign media coordinator. She served in the Collins administration as a special assistant and was later appointed Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of the Arts. As Commissioner of the Arts, Luallen helped found the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. After Governor Collins left office in 1988, Luallen took a position working with the

Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) is an organization that promotes the growth of businesses in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, and the surrounding counties. History In 1862, 220 firms paid $1 each to join the Louisville Board of Trade. Prior to that, the ...

, a position she retained until 1992. Luallen returned to government in 1992 after taking the position of Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet, a position she held until 1994. From 1994 to 1995, Luallen served as Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. In 1995, Paul E. Patton was elected Governor and Luallen served as Secretary of the Executive Cabinet until 2002. Luallen received attention during her tenure under Governor Patton, especially for helping negotiate a 1997 tax incentive package for the United Parcel Service, during the 2000 tax reforms, and for her role in the 1997 higher education reforms.

Kentucky Auditor

She was elected to the position of state auditor in November 2003 and was re-elected by a wide margin in the 2007 Kentucky State Elections. Luallen was not eligible to run for another term as Auditor in 2011. As Auditor, Luallen received near-universal praise, "uncovering millions of dollars in fraud—sending up a then-unheard-of 120 cases to law enforcement." She was seen as "a non-partisan figure whose work resulted in the prosecution of 34 public officials, many from her own party." On Luallen's willingness as state auditor to search out crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor commented, "I am very impressed with that office under her. They have the right attitude about being a watchdog." During her tenure as Auditor, Luallen successfully battled colon cancer and another unspecified cancer in 2004 and 2005. Luallen was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination to challenge

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

Mitch McConnell Addison Mitchell McConnell III (born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and retired attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky and the Senate minority leader since 2021. Currently in his seventh term, McConne ...

in the

2008 Election This electoral calendar 2008 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2008 in the de jure and de facto sovereign states and their dependent territories. Referendums are included, even though they are not elections. By-elections are no ...

before announcing her decision not to run but instead to remain as Auditor. In December 2011, Luallen said "At this stage in my career, I think the next race for me if I decide to run for statewide race would be for governor", and ruled out running against McConnell in 2014. In April 2014, she ruled out running for Governor in 2015.

Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

On November 6, 2014, Governor

Steve Beshear Steven Lynn Beshear (born September 21, 1944) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 61st governor of Kentucky from 2007 to 2015. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1980, was the state's 44th atto ...

appointed Luallen Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, effective November 13, 2014. Luallen completed the term of Jerry Abramson who was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs by President Barack Obama.

Honors

*1994- Centre College Distinguished Alumni induction *2001- National Excellence in Leadership award from Women Executives in State Government *2009- Public Officials of the Year honoree from '' Governing'' *2012- Fontaine Banks Award for Distinguished Service from

Bluegrass Council Scouting in Kentucky has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. Kentucky has a very early Scouting heritage, as the home state of Daniel Carter (Unc ...

of the Boy Scouts of America *2012- Martha Layne Collins award from Women Leading Kentucky *2012- Honorary degree from Spalding University *2012-

Kentucky Women Remembered Kentucky Women Remembered is an exhibit in the Kentucky State Capitol that honors the contributions of women from the Commonwealth. The exhibit consists of over 60 watercolor portraits of outstanding Kentucky women. The Kentucky Commission on Wome ...

induction *2015- Louisville '' Business First'' Enterprising Woman of Achievement

References

External links