FRANKFORT —
U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis announced Tuesday he is resigning his seat immediately due to an unspecified family health issue.
Davis, 53, a conservative Republican who represents Kentucky’s 4th District, previously announced he would not seek another term in order to spend more time with his family. Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Bill Adkins face off in the November election to succeed Davis.
Davis released a press statement just before 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday announcing he’d sent his formal resignation to Gov. Steve Beshear and to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Calls to his office and to staff members in Kentucky were not answered.
“Recently, a family health issue has developed that will demand significantly more of my time to assist,” said Davis in the written statement. “As a result, I cannot continue to effectively fulfill my obligations to both my office and my family. Family must and will come first.
“Therefore, I am resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives effective at close of business on July 31, 2012,” Davis said. He did not say what the family health issue is, but Steve Robertson, Chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, said it affects a family member, not Davis himself.
“This is a situation certainly where he feels he needs to devote his time to that,” Robertson said. “I think Geoff Davis has done an incredible job representing the people of the 4th District and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
Unlike vacancies in the Senate, the governor cannot appoint a replacement for Davis or fill any vacancy in the U.S. House.
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution which deals with the House of Representatives says: “When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.”
Beshear is in Europe on an economic development trip, and his spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said she didn’t expect to reach him Tuesday evening, given the time differences. The state constitution requires the governor to issue a writ of election at least 35 days prior to the date of any special election.
Robertson said he hopes the governor will call a special election for Nov. 6, the date of the general election, which would save costs. The parties’ district and county committees select candidates for any special election and presumably would select their two candidates already running for a full term, Massie and Adkins.
Beshear conceivably could do nothing, allowing the winner of the Nov. 6 general election to assume the seat in January. But that would likely be unpopular and go against precedent. A special election was called to fill a vacancy in the 2nd District when William H. Natcher died while in office in 1994. On top of that, the constitutional language says the governor “shall” call the special election.
Additionally, if the winner of the special election and the general election is the same person, that person will pick up valuable seniority in the U.S. House by taking his seat in November instead of January, ahead of other freshmen elected this year.
Congress is also expected to take up major issues in a lame duck session after the November election, including the budget sequestration which currently calls for steep cuts in federal domestic and defense programs in January.
The 4th district runs along Kentucky’s northern border, stretching from eastern Jefferson County, along the Ohio River to Ashland in the east. Davis was first elected in 2004.
Local News
Rep. Davis resigns from seat
- Local News
-
-
Crews dig through night after deadly Okla. twister
Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said Tuesday.
-
Principal's demotion hearing to be public
An appeal hearing for demoted Wurtland Elementary School principal Barbara Cook will be open to the public at Cook’s request.
-
AT&T to hire 140 workers at East Park
For the next few months, AT&T officials have announced they will hire 20 people per month until they have filled 140 customer-service positions at the East Park Call Center in the industrial park between Grayson and Ashland.
-
Boards close to agreement on students
The Greenup and Russell school districts are close to an agreement on families that want to send their children to school out of their own district.
-
Memory Days to start Thursday
Memory Days volunteers invite everyone to “Come to Grayson to remember and be remembered,” during this year’s 43rd annual festival Thursday through Sunday.
-
Man arrested for using forged checks
The following information was taken from Ashland Police Department reports:
-
What's happening: 5/21/13
Cruzin on the Plaza will be Friday through Sunday at Pullman Plaza.
-
Huge tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb, kills 51
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed, and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.
-
What you need to know about preparing for tornadoes
Tornado survivors and seasoned observers suggest people do two simple things to prepare for tornadoes: Know where to take shelter, and move quickly when the time comes.
-
VIDEO: How technology helps predict tornadoes
At the National Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the team charged with predicting tornadoes relies on ever-changing technology to determine when and where storms may strike.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
