HENDERSON, Ky. — Democrat Kentucky Secretary of State hopeful Heather French Henry says her years of work in veterans affairs and advocacy will serve her well if she wins this fall's election.

Henry, who faces Republican candidate Michael Adams on Nov. 5 in the general election, was in Henderson Tuesday evening to attend a fundraiser hosted by Henderson County Sheriff Ed Brady.

Henry is a former Miss America (the first from Kentucky) who has also served as commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs under both Democrat Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.

"I have worked in leadership in a very large department for nearly five years," she told The Gleaner Tuesday afternoon. "Our Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs is probably the largest department under the executive branch."

As head of the KDVA, Henry — the spouse of former lieutenant governor Steve Henry — said she's overseen four state veterans nursing homes, five Kentucky veterans cemeteries, 910 employees and a budget of $100 million-plus, along with a host of related programs. That includes work in legislative policy, as well.

"And we had a lot of wonderful projects in conjunction with the Kentucky Secretary of State's office," she said. (Current Secretary of State Alison Grimes has term-limited out of the office.)

Those projects include teaming up with the secretary of state's office to utilize veterans' nursing homes as polling locations.

That served a dual role, making voting access easier for veterans "but it also provided the opportunity for the community to become engaged and come in to that polling location and find out more about what that state facility is all about. We look at services that government has and they have some wonderful state services, but not everyone knows they are there."

"And of course, we championed the military overseas voting act. Trying to make it easier and a little smoother for overseas military personnel to vote."

Another area tying in both veterans issues and the secretary of state's office, she said, has been "advocating for accreditation of veteran-owned businesses and championing veteran-owned business."

"Some people don't know what the secretary of state's office does, or they think it only does elections. But the majority of that office and the majority of that budget actually centers around the business arena. The secretary of state is the largest repository of business and organization filings in the entire commonwealth."

Henry, an active DAR member, also pointed out a historical role that the secretary of state's office fulfills through its Kentucky Land Office. That area, which many state residents don't even know about, is charged with maintaining digital records pertaining to city classifications and incorporations as well as historic land grants dating back to the late 1700s.

"I get really excited because that type of history excites me," she said. "... I would love, love, love to really fully develop a (educational) program that encompasses those digital archives."

"So, when we talk about the three fundamental parts of the secretary of state's office, I've actually had a lot of experience in all three, so I think I can actually move in with really little to no transition, and we're going to be heading into a budget year, so it's going to be an interesting dynamic change."

Henry also touted her bipartisan history.

"As Miss America, I traveled the nation working on behalf of veterans initiatives as the daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran and also working on homeless veterans initiatives, and you know, the military veterans aspect is an American issue. It's not a Republican or Democratic issue," she said.

"And so when I came back home to Kentucky and started pounding the pavement here, I built a great rapport with the commonwealth in my leadership style as a servant leader and one who respects everyone from every walk of life."

"When I went into the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs under one administration and stayed under the other, I just think it proves even more that I'm capable of working across party lines. I'm a huge believer in gathering everyone around the table, especially when you are working with a piece of legislation that is broader than just one agency, of grabbing the opinions and expertise of people on both sides to make sure we are looking at something holistically and comprehensively. And I do think that is the type of credibility that I have if you were to ask legislators from both sides of the aisle. I do think they would say that I'm certainly fair and impartial and that is one of my top qualities."

She also wanted to stress her family ties to western Kentucky.

"Stephen is from Owensboro and we still have a house here," she said. "... I'm from Augusta and Maysville, so kind of the exact opposite, but still small towns. And I certainly understand it's a struggle, with people wanting their voice to be heard and thinking their voice doesn't count, but truly, if we are going to maintain some positive attributes and move into the future, we all have to move there together, whether you live in a city or you are in rural Kentucky, we all have to understand and respect each other and where we come from.

"And just like my Fancy Farm speech, I wasn't one of those biting people. I was talking to both sides. I looked to my left and looked to my right, because it's really about building Kentucky together, and that's what I really want to do."

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