After nearly 12 years in the House of Representatives Regina Huff has announced she will not be seeking a seventh term in office.
Huff, R-Williamsburg, came via social media on Monday night and was initially run by her local newspaper The Times Tribune.
In the message to voters of the 82nd House District, which currently encompasses part of Laurel and all of Whitley County, she endorsed assistant Commonwealth Attorney Nick Wilson as her replacement. However, lawmakers are currently re-drawing the legislative districts which could lead to geographical shifts as rural populations have declined.
Huff will leave the legislature and her position as the chairwoman for the House of Representatives Education Committee. As a former teacher she said it was the “most coveted and sought after position.”
“Two election cycles ago, after much thought and prayer, and the request of my family, I began to plan my exit from politics,” Huff wrote on Facebook. “Truthfully, when I was elected to fill the term, I only planned to stay until I found someone that I felt had a servant’s heart and wanted the position for the right reason, to represent the people of the 82nd district.
“Let me be clear, this isn’t my seat to will to anyone,” she continued.
Republicans have a super majority in both legislative chambers and are angling to pass new legislative districts in a special session later this year.
