Newly-inaugurated Kentucky Governor, Andy Beshear, has made it clear that he will not leave any time to waste when beginning the groundwork for drastic reform efforts for Kentuckians all across the Commonwealth. Tuesday, December 10, his first day on the job, consisted of the removal of Bevin-era Kentucky Board of Education officials. This action represents Beshear’s dedication to improving the quality of public education and his willingness to follow through on the promises he made during his campaign.

In his inaugural address, he stressed the value of commitment to his and what he hopes is everyone’s ideal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He made a point of saying, “I will be governor just as much for those who voted against me as those who voted for me. Because I view this election as an opportunity… An opportunity to heal wounds.“

He hopes his constituent Kentuckians as well as those who will hold various governmental offices with him in Frankfort will be able to put aside a desire to make solely political gains and instead opt to “Make room at the table for voices that have been excluded.”

Arguably his biggest platform as a candidate for governor was the value he gave to the teaching profession, saying “They are the ones on the front lines fighting to give our children the opportunity to succeed. They are the ones Muhammed Ali- a great Kentuckian- referred to when he said, Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Former Governor Matt Bevin’s Educational administration had a reputation for prioritizing charter and private schools in their school funding allocations. Which in some ways, directly and negatively impacted Kentucky’s public school systems. The individuals Beshear quickly replaced in the Bevin-era Board of Education, including Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis, are not of one particular party affiliation. The Governor has decided to focus less on promoting the governmental leverage of his party and more on the welfare of students, teachers, and school administrators across the commonwealth.

Also in his inaugural address, Beshear discusses his goals of prioritizing health care and rehabilitation coverage for all Kentuckians. He recounts taking a trip to Clay County as governor-elect with Kentucky State Senate President Stivers, Senator Mitch McConnell, and newly elected Attorney-General Daniel Cameron to open a new drug treatment facility. This is a standard he hopes to carry on for as long as he is governor in order to continue the fight against the opioid crisis that has damaged the lives of countless Kentuckians. In the fight to protect healthcare rights, Beshear has also promised to keep prices of necessary medication like insulin from increasing. He compliments the success Kentucky has had with expanding Medicaid as well, saying “it provided four hundred thousand more of our fellow Kentuckians access to affordable health care.”

“These are our brothers and sisters …After the expansion, these neighbors could go see a doctor without fear of bankruptcy.”

Essentially, Kentuckians have come to the agreement that Andy Beshear was able to portray his dedication to addressing the “kitchen table” issues that are dear to the heart of everyone in the Commonwealth far more effectively than Bevin. And the effective campaign Beshear held will be, as he has already demonstrated, one that turns promises into action.

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