Ag school alumnus runs for state house

Alumnus Richard Heath is running for the state house. Heath visited the campus Wednesday and discussed his Murray State memories. || Allie Douglass/The News

Haley Russell
Assistant News Editor

Richard Heath, Murray State alumnus, has entered the race for 2nd District State Representative after current Mayfield, Ky., Democrat Rep. Fred Nesler announced his retirement in December.

Heath was raised on a farm in Graves County, Ky., and eventually bought it from his father when he was 19 years old.

In 1979, he put himself through college at Murray State while continuing to own and run the farm. After graduating college with a teaching degree, Heath taught one year of school in Farmersville, Tenn.

He then entered the business world, and took a full time job at the Graves County Co-op in Mayfield and sold this farm to the conservation reserve. … Continue Reading

Winters retires from state Senate seat

Olivia Medovich
Staff writer

Sen. Ken Winters announced Jan. 30 he would not be seeking re-election of his senate seat this term.

Winters has represented the 1st senatorial district in west Kentucky, which includes Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon and Trigg counties, for the last 8 years.

Winters said he decided not to run again because of health concerns with his wife, Shirley Winters.

“It’s been a little over a year ago, my wife had major back surgery,” he said.

He said when he initially made the decision to run for senator, he and his wife were in relatively good health. … Continue Reading

Business owner to run for office

Chris Wilcox
Staff writer

Local Murray resident and businessman Hal Kemp, Democrat, announced he will be seeking election for Kentucky’s 5th District House seat in the Kentucky General Assembly.

Melvin Henley, who currently occupies the seat, announced on Dec. 19 2011 he is retiring.

Henley declined to comment for this report.

Henley’s career includes serving as the mayor of the City of Murray from 1978 to 1982, chemistry professor and chair of the chemistry department from 1987 to 1992 and four terms as Kentucky’s 5th District House representative.

Henley has been a part of several committees including economic development, energy and tourism, transportation and a subcommittee of appropriations and revenue for budget review of post-secondary education. … Continue Reading

Senator visits Murray

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul answers questions from attendees at a town hall style meeting Jan. 11. || Photos by Austin Ramsey/The News

Austin Ramsey
News Editor

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul formally helped kick off U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield’s campaign for re-election with a meet-and-greet and town hall style meeting with voters in Murray Jan. 11.

The two Republicans addressed a packed Murray Room in the CFSB Center first to introduce Whitfield’s bid for re-election in the morning, and then later with the town hall meeting featuring only Paul.

Whitfield, a Hopkinsville, Ky., native who was elected to Congress in 1994, has served the 1st Congressional District for eight terms. His visit to Murray in the heart of his district marks the start of a tour through western Kentucky.

In a short address, Whitfield called on his moderate base for a strong re-election. He said the country’s financial stability was of the utmost priority in his mind and that job creation would take precedence in the two-year term seat.

“Our first priority must be to put Americans back to work,” he said. … Continue Reading