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Leeper Not Suprised He was Passed Over for Senate President Nomination

Independent Paducah Senator Bob Leeper
Independent Paducah Senator Bob Leeper

Independent state Senator Bob Leeper of Paducah says he knew his failed bid for the senate presidency was a long shot, but he wanted to give senate members a choice.  He says his lack of party affiliation likely factored into his failed nomination.

“…the majority caucus is able to select their nominee for the president’s role. Being an independent in that partisan environment sometimes has its baggage,” Leeper said.

Leeper says he sought the position because he wanted to take a leadership role in policy direction.

The Republican Caucus nominated Senator Robert Stivers to succeed former Senate President David Williams. Williams left the senate to take a position as a state circuit court judge. The senate’s GOP majority means Stivers is a shoe-in for the position when the official vote occurs in January. Leeper said of the nominee,

“Robert [Stivers] has got a unique set of attributes that I think will serve the senate well, and I look forward to watching him develop in the role of senate president.”

Leeper is the current Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chairman, a position which Stivers says Leeper will keep despite his challenge.

Shelly Baskin works in MSU's Office of Regional Outreach and is a graduate student in Occupational Safety and Health. A roustabout from Memphis, Tennessee, Shelly first found his way into WKMS through the newsroom back in 2011 through luck, charm and force of will. Though he left news for another position, he still enjoys working on independent radio projects and volunteering for the station. He’s an avid disc golfer and occasional real golfer and is terrible at both. A lover of all things musical, Shelly is always ready to hear something new and unique.
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